A festival celebrating the British cucumber and its contribution to the area’s economy has been knocked out of national awards for rural enterprises.

The Great British Cucumber Festival, which has been held twice in Waltham Abbey, was nominated for the Countryside Alliance Awards and made it to the regional rounds.

Regional finalists in the east of England included a Suffolk general store and a volunteer group offering horticultural training in the community.

The next cucumber festival is due to be held in the town next year.