THE 14th annual Welsh Perry and Cider Festival took place at Caldicot Castle attracting crowds of more than 3,500 people.

The festival was held at the castle for the third time this year from May 22 to 25. The festival featured 123 different ciders and perries.

The majority of the ciders and perries were produced in Wales including several from Gwent. Those produced in Monmouthshire include Apple County Cider from Newcastle, Monmouth, Ty Bryn from Grosmont, near Abergavenny, Three Saints is from Llantrisant in Usk, Troggi Cider is made in Earlswood in Chepstow and Hallets is from Hafodyrynys in Crumlin.

Cressida Slater, festival co-ordinator for the Welsh Perry and Cider Society, said: "It was a really good festival - very busy.

"The feedback has been very positive - we have less that 20 ciders and perries left."

Around 300 campers stayed for the festival. Ms Slater said the tutorial tasting workshops were very successful.

The workshops featured a tutorial on matching cheese and cider, learning about the natural sparkling perry process and a tutorial on keeving from the French cider makers.

The festival attracted 2,500 last year and was previously held in Clytha Arms in Abergavenny.

The winners of the dry cider category were Raglan Cider Mill with RCM Dry, Williams Brothers won gold for their medium cider Bonk and gold in the sweet cider category with Biffyn.

Old Monty won gold with their oak conditioned cider Oakey Cokey, Seidr Y Mynydd won gold with their bottled cider and won champion cider of Wales. Seidr Y Mynydd also won best newcomer as well.

Llanblethian Orchards won the dry perry category with Pick & Mix, Gwynt Y Ddraig won gold in the medium/sweet perry category with Two Trees Perry.

Gwynt Y Ddraig also won the bottled perry competition with Perry Vale and was named champion perry of Wales.