IT MAY have been nearly a whole week since Spudman rolled into Salisbury, but the buzz he left behind is still hard to miss.

The social media star – Ben Newman – drew huge crowds when he set up in the city last Saturday, with queues stretching for hours as fans waited patiently for one of his famous jacket potatoes.

For many, it was more than just street food.

Families, students and visitors lined up not only for a meal, but for a chance to meet the man himself, with Spudman happily stopping for photos and chats throughout the day.

The visit proved something of a coup for Salisbury, bringing a surge of footfall and a festival-like atmosphere to the market area.

Shoppers and traders alike reported a noticeable lift, as word spread quickly across social media that Spudman was in town.

Now, nearly a week on, people are still talking about it and Spudman himself was full of praise for the city after his visit – and hinted it may not be a one-off.

He told the Salisbury & Avon Gazette: “Beautiful city, absolutely lovely people, amazing market. And an absolute pleasure to work with Salisbury City Council.

“Hopefully we’ll come back again! Genuinely loved the place, and there’s clearly lots of spud fans in Salisbury!”

Kirsty Heydon-Watts said: “We had the best afternoon ever. The whole atmosphere was great… the queue went down surprisingly fast and we were even dancing while waiting.”

Carmen Adriana Druga commented: “I waited two hours in the queue – it was well worth it. Huge portion… amazing staff.”

Joanne Carter added: “Travelled in from Swindon – 2.5-hour queue worth every minute. Food and atmosphere were amazing.”

Lyds Morley said: “My son got his picture and book signed – it made his day. The jacket potatoes were out of this world.”

His appearance underlined the growing impact of social media personalities on local high streets, with thousands following his movements online and turning out in force when he arrives.

For Salisbury, it was a reminder of the power of a single event to bring energy into the city centre – and of the appetite for something a little different.

While the queues may have gone, the reaction certainly hasn’t.

Abi grabbed a quick selfie! (Image: Abi Weaver Photography)

Even young’uns were lining up!

It was a day out for many friends!

For more photos of the day and to hear how our readers reacted, visit our Facebook page.