Chocoholics were in their element at the weekend as Bath hosted its third annual Chocolate Festival. The event in the courtyard of the Milsom Place shopping centre saw a host of experts showcasing their delights and offering sweet-toothed visitors the chance to sample and buy Christmas gifts.

Among the experts was Willie Harcourt-Cooze, who featured in the Channel 4 TV show Willie’s Wonky Chocolate Factory.

The programme followed Willie as he achieved a childhood ambition to be the first man since George Cadbury to grow, make and market his own chocolate.

From his Devon-based factory he is trying to persuade the public to use chocolate in all areas of cooking.

At the festival he was launching his Venezuelan Black Hot Chocolate.

Willie said: “It is great to be here supporting a purely chocolate event.

“There is a great market for it here in Bath and being here today has made me want to move to the city.

“I love chocolate and I love the variations of flavour you can create.

“There are so many different flavours from so many different regions and I love its versatility.

“It can be sweet, it can be savoury, it can be whatever you want it to be.”

Other stalls this year featured Bath firm Minerva Chocolate, James’ Chocolate from Bristol and the South Devon Chilli Farm.

Also at the event was Rococo Chocolate.

Director, James Booth, said: “This event attracts a lot of chocolate fans and it is nice to be a part of it.

“It is good to be here supporting it  and there it is always a good environment.

“It is great to be part of the competition and see what other people are doing as well as showcasing what we sell.”

Operations manager of Milsom Place, Laura Basire-Dacam, said the event was always a success.

She said: “It gets everyone into the Christmas spirit and offers a nice alternative to the Christmas markets.

“We get an amazing response from the public and it is always so successful.”