Last minute preparations are being made for the festival, which will take place on Sunday (October 5) in Saturday Market.

Producers from across the East Riding will be selling locally-produced food, while top local chefs entertain shoppers with their culinary skills.

This year there will also be a chance for keen amateur chefs to be chosen to represent the region on the new daytime cookery series Taste The Nation.

Programme makers from ITV will be on the look-out during the day for keen cooks with a passion for food to take part in a national cookery knock-out.

“With such a roaring food industry, we’re convinced there are some superb northern cooks and we hope to meet them at the Beverley Food Festival,” said senior producer Lucy Wedlock.

“The festival supports local producers and last year attracted over 10,000 people, so we’re expecting to find lots of real foodies who are perfect for the programme.”

Anyone interested in taking part in the TV show can also contact tastethenation@itv.com or telephone 09011 986986.

The food festival will be opened by local TV news presenter Hannah Moffat at 10am.

Entertainment throughout the day will include Beverley Brass Band, the Land of Green Ginger Morris Dancers, Beverley Garland Dancers, Professor Fiddlesticks and John the Rotter, who will be giving composting talks for children and adults.

Local chef and caterer John Ben from 2 chefs.co.uk will be providing a barbecue on behalf of Beverley’s Mayor’s charities.

This year there will be 75 stalls selling local produce, many of which are award winning products.

Helen Watson, event organiser and Deputy Town Clerk, said; “Beverley Town Council has been busy planning the Food Festival and is looking forward to the event.

“We have tried to add more variety and make the event larger with more activities and entertainment to add to the festival atmosphere.

“We hope lots of residents and visitors will come to the festival to see the wealth and variety of fantastic local food and drink on offer and enjoy the day.”