THE second annual Flavours of Herefordshire Food Festival will feature all the key ingredients that go into making it one of the UK's biggest and best food events.

Taking place at Hereford Racecourse over the weekend of October 27 and 28, the festival will once again reflect the unique links between one of the most unspoilt regions of Britain and the food and drink it produces.

Last year's inaugural festival was hailed a great success by the organisers, who welcomed more than 5,500 visitors to the Racecourse in just two days.

Jane Lewis, Herefordshire Council's cultural services manager, said: "Best-selling cookery writer Sophie Grigson, who wowed the crowds last year, will be making a welcome return.

"Her involvement is highlighted in a new leaflet as one of seven good reasons to come along to the Racecourse to enjoy the slow life for a couple of days."

Other reasons include the food pavilions, where it will be possible to meet the people who rear, grow, make and sell some of the finest produce in the UK.

More than 100 local, artisan producers have been lined up to fill the pavilions with a mouth-watering array of food and drink, which has clocked up the smallest number of food miles possible.

While local and celebrity chefs cook up a storm in the food theatre, youngsters will be able to join in a host of hands-on activities in the food fun area.

A farmers' market will give everyone the chance to buy fresh foods straight from the fields and the choice of street food for those on-the-go will range from hot chestnuts and rare breed pork sausages to organic and gluten-free foods.

The bid to establish a slow food convivium within Herefordshire, meanwhile, not only complements the Flavours of Herefordshire scheme as a whole, but will also be reflected at the event by a Slow Food Herefordshire area which will send out the message "buy local, fresh and seasonal".

Copies of the latest Flavours of Herefordshire Food Festival leaflet can be obtained free by calling 01432 260621.

Anyone interested can also visit the food festival website at www.visitherefordshire.co.uk for further details.