ILMINSTER food fans enjoyed 15 minutes of fame when celebrity chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall visited the town with a film crew today.

The Axminster-based food campaigner and television personality cooked up a storm in the Market Square this morning with the help of local butcher Clinton Bonner.

The pair prepared a series of mouth-watering dishes using liver from Bonners Butchers, in Silver Street, in an attempt to shake the meat’s unsavoury image.

They then approached unsuspecting onlookers – including News reporter Kirsty Maclagan – with the results and asked them for their verdict.

The culinary experiment was being filmed for the next series of River Cottage, which is due to be aired on Channel 4 in October.

Hugh, who was named Campaigner of the Year at the 2010 Observer Ethical Living Awards earlier this month, said: “We had a lot of fun and managed to get lots of people curious about liver again.

“The people of Ilminster were brilliant - everyone was very friendly and I think it’s going to be a lovely part of the new show.”

Clinton said: “I really enjoyed the filming - I didn’t know what to expect but it was very easy and relaxed.

“I just hope I don’t end up on the cutting room floor!”