TASTEBUDS were tantalised by delicacies from around the globe as food fans gathered for mouth-watering treats in an Oxford park.

Hundreds of families flocked to South Park, Headington Hill, for the annual Foodies Festival on Saturday and Sunday, with the festivities continuing today (monaug31).

The park on Saturday and yesterday (aug29) was filled over the weekend with the sounds of sizzling grills and the popping of champagne corks, while the aroma of cooked food wafted over the crowds sitting, eating and drinking.

Katrina Charles and her partner Adam Ritchie enjoyed the event with four-year-old daughter Gwen.

Ms Charles, 37 from Marston, said the family had returned for second helpings of the festival for at least five years. She said: “It’s a good chance to try a range of different foods. “One of the best things is people can come here with their families, get together and it’s a nice place to sit and share some food.”

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Stands and stalls offering food and drink from dozens of countries set up shop for the festival, which returned to Oxford for the sixth year.

Daring foodies got hot around under the collar sampling different chilli sauces or the chill-eating contest, then cooled off at the various bars, including a pirate ship rum bar.

Chefs showed off their skills in numerous cooking and baking demonstrations, while wine experts were also in the park.

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Jennifer Toro with a giant vat of paella

Visitors feasted their eyes on more food than they could eat, ranging from Spanish paella, German sausages, a barbecue, Caribbean cooking, a Peruvian street food stall, Japanese ramen, Italian pizzas, and French cuisine and even a South African biltong stand.

People with a sweet tooth indulged their cravings with candy floss, chocolate stands, macaroons, liquorice and other sweet treats.

There was also the best of British produce, with organic vegetable boxes, artisan pies and homegrown chillies and sauces.

Neeraj Agarwal and his wife Vishaka, of the Tea People, showcased their range of hot beverage ingredients.

The pair founded their social enterprise two years ago and invest half their profits in helping children in tea-growing regions in Asia such as Darjeeling, in India.

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Neeraj Agarwal, of Tea People

Mr Agarwal said that the pair are now setting up a charity to help improve the education for youngsters by bringing in new teaching techniques and building classrooms and toilets at schools.

Visitors could peruse the wide range of teas on offer at the family-run business’s stall, including Chinese jasmine and lily posies, with the flowers wrapped in green tea leaves that unravel in the glass.

Mr Agarwal said events like the Foodies Festival – which runs until 7pm tonight – [Mon Aug 31] were a great opportunity for diners to try things they might never have seen before and support small businesses.

He added: “The weekend has been really good for us.