Preparations under way for Shrewsbury Food Festival

The festival will draw thousands of people from across the county and festivities are not just confined to the park where there will be hundreds of exhibitors.

Foodies can dine on cake and beer by taking part in two new trails that have been created by the Food Festival.

The festival is providing 500 people with the chance to discover 16 cakes for £1 as part of a cake trail.

The trail will promote Shrewsbury Market and the town's independent bakers – and organisers have even taken into account man's best friend by making sure there are doggie cakes for the town's pampered pooches.

The festival is also working with sponsors Hobsons Brewery, The Armoury and a bunch of the town's best pubs to bring foodies Shrewsbury's first Ale Trail.

A litter of newborn piglets will be taking a bow in front of 25,000 people when they trot along to the festival.

The cute farmyard animals have been reared by Church Stretton farmer Sam Gray, from Middle Farm, who will be displaying them at The Quarry Park, in Shrewsbury, on Saturday and Sunday, in the Lanyon Bowdler Urban Farm.

Amanda Jones, from Lanyon Bowdler, said she was delighted that people would have the chance to get up close and personal with cute animals.

The event, which was dubbed the best in the West Midlands earlier this year at the House of Lords, brings together the county's best chefs, producers and bands together.

The festival site has been expanded and has created new activities for visitors and there will also be a series of cookery skills workshops led by Shrewsbury chef, Chris Burt from The Peach Tree, Momo No Ki and Havana Republic,

This the fourth year the festival has been held and it has gone from strength to strength. Festival co-owner Beth Heath said: "We are looking forward to a really big weekend.

"We are praying for sunshine – but even if there are a few showers we are well equipped."

The festival is open from 10am to 6.30pm on Saturday and 10-5pm on the Sunday.