MARMALADE enthusiasts from around the world gathered in Eden at the weekend to celebrate Paddington's favourite spread.

The 11th World Original Marmalade Festival at Dalemain Mansion, Penrith, featured food and craft markets, chef demonstrations and the competitive marmalade awards.

Festival founder Jane Hasell-McCosh is 'passionate' about the preserve and was thrilled to see so many international participants at this year's event.

"It went brilliantly. Completely brilliantly," she said. "It's gone from strength to strength each year. There's a real renaissance in marmalade. One person flew in from New York!"

Jane believes that this phenomena is in part down to the interesting flavours that those participating in the marmalade awards are putting forward, with this year's overall winner, Jo Aldhouse, of Oxford, incorporating whiskey into her 'Merry Marmalade' preserve.

This year’s marmalade competition saw more than 3,000 entries, including 160 international participants, with plenty of Cumbrian residents getting involved.

Louise Folkard, a Cumbrian bellringer who took home the Campanologists Marmalade award this year, after scooping the 'first timer' prize last year, was 'surprised' with her victory.

"That's only the second time I have made marmalade!" she said. "If I can do it then anyone can. Anyone can make jam. It's quite an achievable but rewarding thing to do."

Even Karen Jankel, the daughter of the Paddington Bear author Michael Bond has suggested that the bear himself would approve of the festival entries.

She said: "Paddington usually enjoys traditional Seville orange marmalade in his sandwiches but he’s always keen to try anything new and he thinks that the ingredients used in some of GOLD award winning entries from Japan and Indonesia sound particularly interesting.”

The festival has so far raised almost £200,000 for Hospice at Home, and this year’s entry fees will also be donated to Action Medical Research and Marie Curie Scotland.