Hyndburn’s new Mayor says she cannot wait to get stuck into this weekend’s Accrington Food and Drink Festival.

One of Coun Marlene Haworth’s first official duties as Mayor will be to officially open the festival on Saturday, June 6 at 9am in the Market Hall, and she is raring to get the foodie fun started.

Coun Haworth said: “I’m really looking forward to it, but then I’m a food lover, so it’s right up my street.

“From what I’ve already seen, this year’s Accrington Food and Drink Festival is going to be the best yet, and I’d love to see it get bigger and better every year.

“We have some brilliant things in Accrington, especially the shops and the Market Hall, and above all the wonderful people who make it such a friendly place to visit.

“I’d like to see as many people as possible come along to the festival and discover for themselves everything that Accrington has to offer.”

Organisers said there will be plenty to see and do at the fun-packed festival which runs across Accrington town centre from 9am to 4pm on Saturday.

Among the attractions will be more than 50 stalls showcasing all kinds of tasty treats, from traditional Lancashire to truly exotic, plus local shops staging their own food festival events and special offers.

Celebrity chef Richard Fox will host three live cookery demonstrations on Broadway, dishing up spiced deep fried crispy tripe and an Accrington Pals pizza.

Accrington Food and Drink Festival 2015

One of the demonstrations, at 2pm, will also feature fellow celebrity guest Jesse McClure, star of hit TV show Storage Hunters, who will be around throughout the day to meet fans and sign autographs.

With the festival falling on the 70th anniversary of D-Day there will also be an exciting World War Two re-enactment at 1pm in the grounds of St James’ Church.

Other D-Day heritage attractions include a military tank opposite the Town Hall, a Jeep in the Arndale and a children’s Dig for Victory activity outside the Market Hall.

Two vintage buses will transport people free of charge to the festival from various pickup points across Hyndburn throughout the morning.

For full details and to book your seats visit www.accringtonfoodfestival.co.uk/free-buses

Visitors can also get there for free on any Pilkington Bus using the voucher printed in the festival guide distributed to thousands of homes and businesses across the area.