CELEBRITY chefs and local food fans came to Witney yesterday to celebrate sheep. To mark its 60th anniversary, the Witney Rotary Club hosted the Festival of Fleece at Cogges Manor Farm.

Celebrity chef Sophie Grigson cut the ribbon to officially open the event as well as putting on cooking demonstrations through the afternoon.

She said: “We’re here doing a stir-frying masterclass in the barn using local produce.

“It’s local lamb obviously – for the Festival of Fleece – but then we’ve gone away from Witney with some ginger and black bean sauce, and then back again with some lovely local asparagus.”

As well as cooking tips, there were craft stalls, weaving demonstrations, film screenings and children’s activities. Visitors could also try their luck on Dolly the Rodeo sheep at the free event and there was a history display on sheep and blanket-making in the town.