Crowds turned out for the Essex Vegan Festival in Colchester - including meat eaters who were tempted by a taste of plant-based food.

%image(15249404, type="article-full", alt="Melissa, Marley, Mia and Carlos Ghuman loved the fresh fruit juices at the Essex Vegan Festival in Colchester. Picture: Neil Didsbury")

Event organiser Victoria Bryceson said: 'It has been really good. We have had a lot of non-vegans. There were people who said they were big meat eaters, who tried vegan hot dogs and burgers.

%image(15249405, type="article-full", alt=""I'll have that one please?" A youngster eyes up the yummy doughnuts at the Essex Vegan Festival in Colchester. Picture: Neil Didsbury")

'Some of them said they wouldn't have known it wasn't meat. They went away really happy.'

%image(15249406, type="article-full", alt="Too good to eat? The cakes and pastries by Vegan Sweet Tooth London proved popular at the Essex Vegan Festival in Colchester. Picture: Neil Didsbury")

She added that around 1,500 people had gone along to the festival. The event was held at the Charter Hall in Colchester, with 85 stalls, featuring a huge range of foods including Greek, Indian, Chinese and Italian cuisine as well as cakes and cheeses.

%image(15249407, type="article-full", alt="Jermaine and Adele Salmon from NFJ Juices at the Essex Vegan Festival. Picture: Neil Didsbury")

READ MORE - 'I loved this veggie cafe'There was also live music from singers Ian Haywood and Sammy B, yoga classes and a range of charity stalls, plus vegan cookery demonstrations and talks.

%image(15249408, type="article-full", alt="100% yummy. 100% vegan. A customer fills a box with cakes at the Essex Vegan festival in Colchester. Picture: Neil Didsbury")

Ms Bryceson said festival-goers had not been put off by concern over the coronavirus.

%image(15249409, type="article-full", alt="Victoria Bryceson, organiser of the Essex Vegan Festival in Colchester, says the popularity of a plant-based diet continues to grow.. Picture: Neil Didsbury")

She added 'We will be back next year, and will be discussing the next event as soon as we have packed up!'

%image(15249410, type="article-full", alt="Some of the tasty treats on offer at the Essex Vegan Festival in Colchester. Picture: Neil Didsbury")

%image(15249411, type="article-full", alt="Jason Winter from Bumble Beer, based in Holland-on-Sea, with the wildlfower seed packaging his product is delivered in, to encourage bees, at Essex Vegan Festival. Picture: Neil Didsbury")

%image(15249412, type="article-full", alt="Halva desserts from Sesame Kingdom at the Essex Vegan Festival in Colchester. Picture: Neil Didsbury")

%image(15249413, type="article-full", alt="Chargrilled stuffed peppers proved popular at the Essex Vegan Festival at Charter Hall in Colchester. Picture: Neil Didsbury")