ALTRINCHAM'S food and drink scene has been declared the best in the region at the Manchester Food and Drink Festival Awards.

The area won 'Foodie Neighbourhood of the Year' at an event to mark the end of the festival at Escape to Freight Island on Monday.

It beat off competition from three other areas of Trafford – Sale, Stretford and Urmston – as well as Heaton Moor, Prestwich, Ramsbottom and Stockport.

Intended to celebrate areas outside the city centre which have made themselves a destination for food and drink lovers, the award was up to a public vote.

A panel of judges including critics, experts and writers made the initial nominations.

Collecting the award on behalf of the area was Andrea George, town centre and consumer brands director at Bruntwood Works, the developer responsible for the ongoing redevelopment of Stamford Quarter and Stretford Mall alongside Trafford Council.

Ms George is also a board member for Altrincham's Business Improvement District.

A number of independent businesses in Trafford were nominated for the festival's other 15 awards, including three Altrincham Market traders (Honest Crust, Picos Tacos, Tender Cow) for 'Food Trader of the Year', Sale's Grapefruit Coffee for 'Coffee Shop of the Year' and Stretford Food Hall for 'Neighbourhood Venue of the Year'.

Sadly, none of them were able to bring their respective awards back to the borough.

Commenting on the awards, Alexa Stratton-Powell, the director of Manchester Food and Drink Festival, said: "We're delighted to announce the winners of this year's awards.

"We set out at the festival to champion Manchester's talent and innovation, and to put independent businesses centre stage. Now more than ever that is what we all need to do.

"It’s been brilliant to bring people together again at the festival hub [in Manchester's Cathedral Gardens] and the awards were a fitting finale – we were able to showcase and celebrate 120 amazing businesses for a celebration that was well and truly well deserved."