WORLD flavours proved popular with the crowds as Broadgreen enjoyed its first street food festival.

Hungry punters hit the streets around Broadgreen Community Centre despite scudding clouds and a miserable drizzle.

Bringing stallholders from as far away as Bristol, selling food inspired by world flavours, the festival was the first organised in the area. Acts including Swindon Samba, took to the stage. It was funded by South Swindon Parish Council.

Janine Howarth, vice-chairman of the parish, said: “It’s positive and it’s very nice to see so many of the community coming together and enjoying themselves, people meeting new people they’ve never come across before.”

Rebecca McIntosh, 84, who moved to Swindon from London 44-years-ago, was enjoying a vegetarian wrap: “The festival is very good. It shows that something can be done to bring all of Swindon together.”

It was only the second ever outing for food stall the International Spud Station. The stall, from which wafted a smell of delicious curries, was serving speciality Polish potato fritters with a choice of meat or vegetarian curry. Stall-owner Michael Gregvlec, 29, from Bristol, said: “The potato pancakes are an old family tradition. It’s very big in Poland, where I’m from.

“This is only our second event. It’s the second time we’re going to be sold out.”

Asked about the stall’s unusual name, the International Spud Station, Michael said: “We cook international flavours, so it’s just a twist on that.”

Contented potato customer Lois Mullaliu, 55, of Wroughton, described the fritters as herby and crunchy. She praised the festival’s community feel: “In spit of the rain I’ve met some great people already.”

Henna tattooists Megan Lowe, 18, and Chloe Carious-Davenport, 16, were enjoying a lull in the queue of children asking for the Indian-inspired designs. Chloe said: “One of the boys had his granddad showing him all his tattoos and showing them to the girl. She was quite awestruck.” Unlike the real thing, henna tattoos wash off.