THE fourth annual Yorkshire Cajun and Zydeco Festival in Malton – one of the biggest in Europe – has been declared the best yet.

Held at the Milton Rooms, the event has become recognised throughout the UK and Europe as one of the leading festivals outside the US to feature the music, dance and food of South West Louisiana.

Glyn Roberts, one of the organisers, said this year’s event had a Mardi Gras theme with a parade of costumes and masks in Malton’s Market Place on Saturday.

“It was an absolutely fantastic weekend and went really, really well,” he said.

“As well as the support of our regular crowd of festival-goers, people came from Holland, Germany and France, as well as the length and breadth of this country, which was amazing.”

The festival included dance and instrument workshops, as well as music sessions at various venues in the town, alongside eight live bands covering the whole spectrum of Cajun and Zydeco music in a varied line-up.

It also coincided with the first monthly Malton food market of the year, with special cookery demonstrations by Cajun chefs.

Glyn said: “We aim to develop and grow the festival year on year and this one had been unbelievable – definitely the best one yet.”