Bumper crowds due for Ludlow Food Festival

Thousands of foodies were descending on south Shropshire today for the county's gourmet event of the year, Ludlow Food Festival - with organisers revealing there has been a rush of tickets ahead of the first day.

Visitors and traders are gearing up for three days of food heaven in and around Ludlow Castle today, tomorrow and Sunday. There will be more than 140 independent food and drink producers and suppliers showcasing real food, ale, cider, perry and wine

Beth Heath, for the festival, said: "The weather forecast is getting better and better every day which is a bonus. We have got a castle full of people.

Ludlow Food Festival - day one in pictures

"We are up 300 per cent on last year. We are expecting bumper crowds."

Ludlow will also host the first British Street Food Awards tomorrow aimed at the 10,000 mobile food providers in Britain.

Food journalist and broadcaster Richard Johnson - along with some of the biggest figures in British food including Marco Pierre White, Mark Hix, Antony Worrall Thompson and Thomasina Miers - have compiled a shortlist. And the final cook-off will be in Castle Street car park tomorrow.

The Chefs Table Restaurant returns showcasing the best of Marches produce.

Ten Michelin-starred chefs will align at the event today for a feast of food demonstrations. Among them will be Ludlow's Will Holland, from La Becasse, in Corve Street, and the restaurant's owner, Alan Murchison.

The line-up will be completed by Richard Bainbridge, Steve Love, John Williams - who owns The Pound, at Leebotwood, and formerly ran Sol restaurant, in Shrewsbury - Brian Webb, from Llandrillo, and Aktar Islam, from Lasan in Birmingham.

Gates opened for the festival at 10am today. The Castle Square Car Park and the main route through the town will be closed tomorrow and Sunday.

For further information visit www.foodfestival.co.uk

By Sophie Bignall