THE first Herefordshire Sausage and Cider Festival at the weekend received mixed reviews, with some claiming it was overpriced and not worth the entrance fee.

Jimmy Dean, of James Dean Events, organised the three day festival over the bank holiday weekend at the King George V playing fields.

Advance tickets were £6.50 for adults, £5 for under 16s and £8.50 and £7 respectively if bought on the day. Three or under gained free entry.

As well as sausages, burgers and cider for sale, there were children's games and rides and live music from tribute bands.

But people on Facebook complained about the cost and quality of the event.

Caroline Williams wrote on the festival's Facebook page and said the music was good but would have liked to have seen stalls selling local produce.

She said there were only around two Herefordshire ciders at £4 a pint and she could not believe the cost for a sausage or burger at £4.

She added: "You cannot take any food or drink in either- your bag is checked. You are also charged entry for kids and also for the rides which are not cheap so if you go with the kids you will need lots of cash."

Kate Woolf said they were disappointed as it wasn't a festival.

She said: "It was a field with a burger van and bar. We at least expected to have a taster stall where we could buy local sausages to cook at home."

But others said they really enjoyed the event. Kris Price said: "I witnessed many dancing and enjoying themselves until the finish. I've also asked a lot of people if they've enjoyed it and so far with the exception of one all have."

While Dawn Amos said: "The price of the ticket and the food and drink is what you pay at any other festival etc, so it doesn't bother me. The people moaning and whining about it being too expensive and rubbish really need to get out more."

Numbers were high on Saturday but as the weather deteriorated Sam Mitcham, from the festival, made his way to allpay park and invited football fans watching Westfields and Hereford on Monday to attend the final day for free.

Mr Dean wrote on the festival's page that the money for the price of the ticket goes towards the cost of the bands and setting up the site.

He said he wanted to make tickets as cheap as possible at the festivals he had arranged across the country and he could not make them any cheaper.

He wrote on his Facebook page: "Of the 40,000 people that have attended my family festivals this summer we’ve had around 370 complaints...

"I can and will always improve every year and I know 370 out of 40,000 is not massive but still I can’t help but hang onto the negatives."