CELEBRITY chef Mary Berry is behind the winner of a village marmalade festival.

Sarah Boothman won the classic Seville marmalade class at Michelmersh on Saturday – using a Mary Berry Aga recipe.

She said: “I’ve been making marmalade for years but only discovered this recipe recently. I love sitting down to cut the peel, it’s so relaxing and a bit self-indulgent.”

Judge Mary Savage said: “We’re looking at colour, consistency and flavour: it should be strong and not too sweet but not bitter either. And it’s important that the peel isn’t tough.” She admitted that her personal favourite was a tangerine marmalade with a touch of whisky in it: “It tastes really different.”

This is the festival’s second year and despite Saturday’s snow blizzard, organiser Elisabeth Hill said: “We’ve had about 60 entries and 200 marmalade enthusiasts visit the festival, so we think marmalade’s earning its place on the regular community calendar.”