One of the world’s best chefs will visit the borough for the annual Lancashire Food Festival.

Ed Baines, who is known to many for his appearances on BBC and ITV cooking shows, will show off his skills in the town centre to celebrate the county’s fantastic produce and cuisine.

More than 50 exhibitors from Lancashire and beyond will be on hand to tempt visitors with a huge selection of food favourites from Lancashire Hotpot to hand-reared beef, Lancashire Kippers to homemade chocolates.

The two-day festival will take place in the Accrington Town hall and feature a food hall and marque, children’s ‘foodie workshops’ and a festival tea room.

This will be the 16th year the festival has run and last year proved a huge success with hundreds of people coming down to sample tasty treats.

Kerry Smith, cultural services manager at the town hall, hailed this year’s line-up.

She said: “We have Ed Baines coming for two days which is great. We have never had the celebrity chef here for the whole weekend before.

“People can have a chance to talk to him and he will also be doing a book signing.

“We have the food workshops where children can decorate and name a chocolate and a tearoom where you can have a brew after mooching around.

“It is an established event and something people look out for which offers good value for money.”

It will be held on Saturday, April 13 and Sunday, April 14 between 10am and 3:30pm.

Admission is £1 but under 16’s are free when accompanied by an adult. The event is being organised by Hyndburn Leisure and supported by Hyndburn Borough Council.

Ed Baines, who is co-owner of the flagship London restaurant Randall & Aubin, will give three mouth-watering demonstrations on each day.

Entry to the demonstrations cost £5. To book tickets call the box office on 01254 380293.