Gastronomes grab your plates, cooks clutch your cutlery - the 2002 York Festival of Food and Drink is fast approaching the city's tables.

The "Countdown" has begun to the sixth annual edible extravaganza, which will be launched on Friday, September 13, by Yorkshire-born television personality and Mayor of Wetwang Richard Whiteley, who is the host of the popular Channel 4 quiz show.

Final preparations are now taking place to ensure that the city will be awash with fine wine and overflowing with good food. With events being held at some of York's most historic venues over the ten-day celebration of culinary excellence, there is sure to be something to everyone's taste.

A sprinkling of colourful celebrities from television and radio are attending to spice up Britain's largest city-wide festival of food and drink, of which the Evening Press is a major sponsor.

Organiser Annette Oliver said thousands of visitors were expected to sample the dozens of events across the city.

She said: "If you like delicious food and fantastic drinks to tickle your taste buds, then come along to York this month and join in the festival fun."

The festival will bring together some of the very best chefs from across the UK, including kitchen celebrities Brian Turner and Sophie Grigson.

Each of the ten days will have a theme, with a return of last year's most popular, the Children's Day and International Day, as well as new ideas, such as a celebration of Yorkshire's regional foods.

Competitions for all abilities from schoolchildren to young chefs as well as tough competition between senior chefs will mix with cooking demonstrations of cuisine from around the world.

A full programme of drinks events, including wine and whisky tastings, are planned, and specialist markets and a sampling boulevard will fill the city's streets.

For tickets and times visit the festival website by following the link from the Evening Press website at www.thisisyork.co.uk or call 01904 554430 for a brochure.

Updated: 12:09 Tuesday, September 03, 2002