celebrity chef James Martin will be on hand during this year’s Tewkesbury Food and Drink Festival, which is now in its fifth year.

The popular festival, which runs over the bank holiday weekend of Saturday and Sunday, May 2-3, has become an established event on the food calendar since it was started.

Organisers are now on the lookout for new producers of food, drink and crafts who wish to take part in the festival.

This year’s event is being held at the Vineyards, with beautiful views of Tewkesbury Abbey in the background.

The full programme includes an entire weekend of events to tempt every palate and features not just celebrity chef James Martin but also chocolate sculpture, wine and cheese tasting with BBC Masterchef finalist Ben Axford, lots of family fun with the annual ‘vegetable olympics’, a competition to find the dinner lady of the year and crafty cookery capers in the craft workshop tent.

Regular guest Rob Rees, also known as the Cotswold Chef, will be returning to give several cookery demonstrations as well as to help judge the kids’ competitions.

Organiser Katie Power urged those hoping to take part to get in touch. She said: “Producers shold contact me as soon as possible as spaces are filling very quickly this year.

“We are also inviting Gloucestershire craftspeople to exhibit for our new craft hall, so call me on 01684 272249 to book your space.”

The festival is supported by the Gloucestershire Flood Recovery Programme in association with Gloucestershire First and Severn Trent Water.

The festival programme and tickets are now available from Tewkesbury tourist information centre on 01684 855040.