Organisers of Ludlow Food Festival today confidently predicted their biggest and best event ever.

Weather forecasters say they expect light rain during the weekend – but bosses of the three-day event say showers will not put a dampener on the fun. Beth Heath, a Ludlow Food Festival director, said: “We’re looking forward to our biggest ever event.” Plus they have created a new fringe festival for this year.

“We’ve got a sensational line-up of Michelin-starred chefs, the best producers from across the region and lots of demonstrations, talks and exhibitions,” Mrs Heath added.

“There is something for everyone, with kid’s events and activities to suit every pocket.”

The festival was launched in 1995 by a group of local businessmen who wanted to take the fight to supermarkets.

It has grown into the best of its type in the UK and is expected to attract around 20,000 visitors this year.

Mrs Heath added: “Our preparations have gone well and we are now looking forward to welcoming people through the gates on Friday. Each year the festival gets a little bigger, this year we really have pushed the boat out.”

The festival will run from Friday to Sunday in Ludlow Castle, with events staged in the town’s market place.

Meanwhile, a vegetable company will be launching a weekend-long invasion of the county at the festival. Skylark Organics are promising visitors a taste sensation when it lines up alongside 30 other exhibitors at the festival’s fringe event, which is being staged on a town centre car park.

The company specialises in fresh vegetables and claims that its carrots are the best around.

Colin Andrews, from Skylark, a veg box business based in Bromyard, near Leominster, said: “This year we’ve been growing multi-coloured carrots that not only look amazing, but are also extraordinarily tasty.”

The Skylark Organics team will be at the Ludlow Food and Drink Fringe Festival on Sunday, with their fruit, vegetables and organic Herefordshire sunflowers.

GET MONEY OFF FESTIVAL ENTRY

We’ll be giving every reader of the Shropshire Star £1 off entry to Ludlow Food Festival. Simply buy Thursday’s newspaper to get a free four-page guide to the event – and a £1 off voucher for Friday’s events.

A further £1 off voucher will appear in Saturday’s paper, allowing discounted early bird entry for visitors to Sunday’s events.