PEOPLE of all ages flocked in their hundreds to Kendal’s first ever vegan fair which was held at the Brewery Arts Centre at the weekend.

The fair showed the full extent of businesses involved in the burgeoning vegan movement with nearly 30 stallholders from all over the north west displaying their wares over two levels.

On offer was a wide variety of clothes, jewellery, handbags, shoes, pet foods, skin care products and footwear. Other stalls advocated compassionate conservation, care of pigs in the woods, woodland management and conservation while Kendal College was promoting its’ two year course on animal management. Seven of the stalls displayed cold foods such as pizzas, bread, cakes, pates and butter.

Near the bar area a selection of hot meals and snacks was also on offer with freshly made food prepared by three Kendal-based vegan catering organisations, Heathen Vegan, The Waterside Café and the Garden Café and Takeaway. Also providing hot food was Sane Food from Southport.

Between them these stalls served more than 400 hot meals and all had run out long before the event finished.

The event was organised by former Kendalian Sorrell Coulson in aid of Animals Asia, the international charity founded in 1999 which aims to end the farming of bears for their bile.

“We have been overwhelmed by the support this Kendal event has been given,” said Sorrell. “We hoped to raise at least £3,000 and with over 600 people attending I am sure we have reached our target."