TV MasterChef finalist Juanita Hennessey was in a village near Devizes on Sunday helping to put Wiltshire on the culinary map.

Mrs Hennessey, who lives in the county at Fosbury, took star billing at the Taste Wiltshire event in Urchfont. She was photographed near a large poster of herself advertising her visit and later tweeted: "There was a very odd lady from @MasterChefUK at the @tastewiltshire event today. Thankfully I didn't bump into her."

But scores of people did get up close and personal as she gave a talk entitled Not Q uite An Eton Mess in a marquee full of admirers. She was born in Bristol in the late 70s to a British half Maltese mother who inspired her to cook. She said: "My mum, an artist and great-granddaughter to the Maltese painter Giuseppe Cali, would pepper our meals with influences from her childhood, tomatoes, olive oil and fresh fish would often frequent the family table.

"She was also a strong advocate of nose to tail eating, so I was introduced at an early age, much to my horror, to the joys of tongue, liver, kidneys and other delights which at the time seemed more awful than offally delicious. It was from there my palate began to mature and my interest in food was ignited."

School children were delighted that she also judged a competition for the best soft fruit and herbs which was won by Five Lanes at Worton with Urchfont Primary second.

A man who also cooks from the hearts and his roots is Italian chef and baker Giovanni Campanella who gave a demonstration of bread making. He runs Dolicipani cafe in Devizes and spoke about unravelling the mysteries of sour dough.

Chefs Dave Watts from the Red Lion at East Chisenbury, John Furby from the Sign of the Angel at Lacock and chef and lecturer Clive Seal, who lives in the village, also made sure visitors went away with plenty of food for thought.

Food producers from all over the county had stalls selling everything from cheese to honey and there was also live music to keep whole families entertained.

Organiser Jenny Holt said: "It was an absolutely brilliant day. We had 800 people last year and there were more than that this time. Everyone loved Juanita and Giovanni was so knowledgeable."

Money is yet to be full counted but raffle money will go to Wiltshire Air Ambulance and a donation will be made to the Open Blue Bus charity which helps families in isolated areas of Wiltshire.