MORE than 500 people attended the first flower and craft festival at All Cannings.

The theme of the flower festival was The Wonders of Wiltshire' and featured creations depicting a canal boat, Salisbury Plain training area and the Fox Talbot photographic museum.

It was held in All Saints Church and the festival was the first organised by the Friends of the Church.

The festival was staged on Friday, Saturday and Sunday while the craft show on the village green was on Saturday.

There were numerous craftspeople with stalls. Clay modelling workshops were a particular success with about 30 children taking part and were led by Pascale Dominique Barrett.

Peter Griffin, of the Friends of All Saints Church, said they were delighted with the response and particularly thanked Sheila Moss for co-ordinating the arrangements.

He said: "The weather was absolutely fantastic and we think some people stayed away because it was so hot and also with the England game on in the afternoon, but we still had a good number of people."

It is thought the festival has raised just under £1,000.

A chilli cook off was also held on Saturday at the Kings Arms pub. More than 100 people tasted 15 different chillies ranging from traditional chilli con carne to vegetarian chilli and chilli quiche. All Cannings resident Geoff Baker's chilli was voted the hottest. The event raised just over £100 for Devizes Opportunity Centre.