The idea for the annual food festival has been suggested by Oswestry Borough Council’s economic and community development officer, Helen Minnice, as a way of marketing the area to tourists.

She says the area has a huge potential as a tourism destination and says it should build on its already fine reputation for food.

And one of the town’s restaurants said today that Oswestry had the perfect opportunity to rival Ludlow as Shropshire’s food capital.

The borough is to team up with Oswestry Town Council to look at ways of developing the town’s economy, from providing serviced, industrial land to supporting the town’s markets and holding festivals.

“I see festivals, events and the success of the markets as the mainstays of the economy of a market town,” she said.

“Oswestry has already shown it is meeting modern demands, particularly when it comes to food. A couple of years ago I struggled to get a cup of tea after 5pm. Today the today is full of coffee shops, bistros and high quality eating houses.”

Mrs Minnice said there had already been some early talks over the possibility of holding a food festival.

Today Martyn Langford from Number 35, one of Oswestry’s main eateries, said he would welcome a food festival.”We are already building up a good reputation for food and we now have a perfect opportunity to rival Ludlow.”

Oswestry already has a popular monthly farmers’ market offering food direct from producers and also a Local To Oswestry scheme, promoting local food.

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