Hundreds of enthusiastic art lovers gathered at White House Farm in Great Glemham on Saturday, for the launch of the annual Alde Valley Spring Festival.

The festival, which runs until May 17, was officially launched by local artist Maggi Hambling, who also exhibited one of her paintings entitled Walls of Water (Blue and Gold) for the occasion.

Among the other exhibition highlights were ceramic, pottery and basketware displays and a woodland studio for branch and twig sculptures by artist Freddy Morris.

However the festival also aims to celebrate the coming together of art, food and farming.

Organiser Jason Gathorne-Hardy, said: “I think that the Suffolk landscape, when combined with local foods and the arts, becomes a setting that is of global importance; and I think that its global identity is set to grow.”

Lady Caroline Cranbrook added: “I am very proud to see how the festival has developed a real nurturing of talent, and the opening was incredibly successful with record crowds.”

The festival is open daily 10am to 6pm, excluding Mondays, with the exception of Bank Holiday Monday.