A SPLASH of Mediterranean colour came to Liverpool over the weekend as hundreds flocked to the city’s first Spanish festival.

Visitors to Williamson Square tasted paella made from authentic Spanish ingredients and were treated to flamenco dancing as the city basked in appropriately Mediterranean-style weather.

It is the first time the showcase, called A Taste Of Spain, has been held outside London and Edinburgh.

As well as tourism chiefs, the festival attracted a Spanish TV crew who captured the sights and sounds of the event to be shown back home.

One of the most popular attractions was a huge pan of paella, which was big enough to serve 1,000 people.

All the ingredients – except for 150 kilos of chicken, which was obtained locally – were brought over from Spain.

Gema Galbis, whose family owns a hotel and restaurant in her native Valencia, said: “It takes two hours to cook the 500lbs of paella.

“Apart from the meat, all the ingredients – the oil, the water used to cook the rice, and the orange tree wood used for the fire – have come from Spain.

“This is the first time I have been in Liverpool but it certainly won’t be the last. The weather makes it feel just like being at home.”

The Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Cllr Mike Storey, officially welcomed the high-powered Spanish delegation.

He said: “The link with Spain is important to Liverpool, and Liverpool is important to Spain.

“There are now 16 flights to Spain from John Lennon airport. The number of passengers using those flights is a huge boost for the tourism industry and an event like this showcases Spain to Liverpool people.”