JUICY meatballs, sizzling bananas, spicy prawns and smiling staff greeted visitors to the Quarter as the York Food and Drink Festival reached its climax.

Ten days of fun, frolics and food ended this weekend with the schools challenge in the main tent and outdoor scoffing in the Quarter.

Were it not for the lack of sunshine in the Back Swinegate area, you might have thought you were wandering the backstreets of Barcelona or Paris.

It was all banners, flags, outside seats and outside cooking.

If it wasn't the crazy fruit concoctions at El Piano, it was the succulent meatballs and prawn kebabs served at Kennedy's caf-bar.

Although the lack of sunshine may have kept away some of the crowds, the bars in the area can still put the event down as a success.

Paul Buckby, from the Patio, was happily barbecuing away out in Swinegate.

"This is a marvellous idea," he said while flipping his huge burgers.

"By creating this kind of atmosphere we are really lifting the spirits in this area. The festival has been a roaring success, anything that can promote eating and drinking in this way can only be good for York and good for business."

Many a foreign accent could be heard among those wandering through the Quarter, an indication that the festival has a positive impact on the city and its bars and restaurants.

Back to the nitty gritty of the festival, and proud parents crammed into the St Sampson's Square tent to sample the excitement of watching their progeny battle it out in the Denby Pottery Interschool School Cookery Challenge.

Teams of three pupils from Oaklands, Huntington and Joseph Rowntree School had 75 minutes to create a two-course meal on an £18 budget.

In an entertaining battle, it was Huntington School who triumphed with their seared tuna, oriental vegetables with lemongrass and poached pears.

Another food and drink festival is now over, but gourmets and gourmands alike will already be looking forward to whetting their palates at next year's.

Updated: 08:34 Monday, September 24, 2001