THE eat is on – foodies are set to descend on Bridport for a week when the annual Food Festival launches on June 12.

Food lovers will visit the town to take part in a tempting range of events and activities – culminating in a main festival day on Saturday, June 18 at Asker Meadow. Top chefs and experts lined up for the Bridport and Lyme Regis News-backed festival include Mark Hix and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall.

Organiser Amanda Streatfeild said: “I’m delighted by the involvement and en-thusiasm sho-wn by the local community for the Festival.

“And this year there’s certainly plenty of great events to enjoy.”

Open Farm Sunday launches on June 12, where you can go behind the scenes at local farms including Denhay and Washingpool.

Highlights for the start of the week include talks and demonstrations on Wednesday, June 15.

They include an Everything Stops for talk on the history of the afternoon tea.

Chef Stephan Frigon will hold a Cooking Local Produce with a Twist demonstration at the Olive Tree from 3pm and the Green Yard Café hosts The Answer Lies in the Soil at 7pm, including a light supper and talk from Martin Biss, farm manager of the Magdalene Project. Meet and Eat hands-on cookery workshops for the over 50s are also taking place at the Centre for Local Food at St Michael’s Trading Esta-te on June 14 and 15.

There will be a Food and Drink Question Time on Friday, June 17. Mr Hix, grower Michael Michaud and Cleeves Palmer of Palmers Brewery will be among the panel at the Bull Hotel at 7pm to take questions from the audience with local food and drink afterwards. Tickets are £5, including food and drink, and available from Leakers Bakery and The Bull Hotel.

The Festival Main event takes place in Asker Meadows with Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall appearing in the Cookery Theatre alongside local chefs. Advance tickets at £2 are available from Bridport TIC. It is free for under-14s.

For more information about booking visit the website: bridportfoodfestival.com