THE popular Pommery Dorset Seafood Festival has proved there is no other batter after being named as the best food event in Europe by an international media giant.

CNN, the American-based multi-media organisation, voted the seafood festival as number one on the continent after reviewing ten of the best.

The festival returns to Weymouth Harbourside next weekend for its eighth year in a row.

It attracted more than 50,000 visitors to the town last year and preparations are now well underway for this year’s festival to make it bigger and better than before.

It beat other events such as the Stragusto festival in Italy, the Stuttgarter Weindorf in Germany, the Loch Lomond food and drink festival in Scotland and the Mastreif fish festival in Norway.

In CNN’s review, it states: “The waters off of southern England's Dorset coast yield some of the best seafood in the UK.

“The region has the restaurants to match, with Hix Oyster and Fish House in Lyme Regis and the ace Hive Beach Cafe at Burton Bradstock.

“But it's the annual Dorset Seafood Festival, held around Weymouth Harbour, that's the ultimate beacon for foodies in this corner of England.

“Dozens of stalls selling crowd-pleasers such as champagne and oysters dot the streets, with talks, demonstrations and tastings.”

This year’s festival will include demonstrations from a host of top chefs at the Jurassic Skyline “How To” zone in the Weymouth Sealife tower, plus hundreds of stalls along the harbour.

Brian Cooper, one of the organisers of the festival, said the news was a huge boost after of the festival this year.

He said: "Voted 4th best street food festival by the Independent newspaper in 2012, this latest accolade is wonderful news.

“To come top of the top ten festivals in Europe by CNN, one of the world’s biggest media organisations, is an incredible achievement.

“The team has worked hard to reach international media that will promote Dorset and promote the quality and diversity of our local seafood.

“The value of this event continues to grow, helping support the local business community and move the resort forward to attract new and prosperous visitors.”