ORGANISERS of Malton Food Lovers Festival plan to make this weekend’s event the biggest and best ever.

The event, which started in 2009, has now grown to a full weekend programme of events, with a guest list of star patrons and top chefs, including Rosemary Shrager, Tom Parker-Bowles, Brian Turner and Andrew Pern, who will be holding demonstrations in two specially-created cookery theatres.

Tom Naylor-Leyland, of We Love Malton, said: “The We Love Malton organising committee has really worked hard to put together a real treat for foodies and families and believe it will be the most successful yet.”

This year, the festival is expanded with the Welcome To Yorkshire Taste Trail, incorporating 20 of the town’s eateries and non-food businesses, which will be holding tasting sessions.

The festival also involves a young chef competition, with school pupils challenged to design a two-course meal with locally-sourced ingredients.

The Territorial Army from the 4th Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment will also have a field kitchen in the Market Place, serving curry to raise money for the Army Benevolent Fund.

Festival events will be held in a number of venues from 9am to 6pm on both Saturday and Sunday.

Other events include a farming skills exhibition in Malton Cattle Market with welly throwing and cutest dog competitions also being held. For more information, visit maltonfoodfestival.co.uk