VISITORS will once again flock to a Herefordshire village as the Shobdon Food and Flying Festival returns for its 15th year, with a flypast from the UK's last Lancaster Bomber on the cards.
The two-day event at Shobdon Airfield showcases some of the best local produce as well as raising vital funds for local charities, with more than £100,000 raised since 2004.
Since moving to the airfield six years ago, organisers say aviation is now as much at the forefront of the festival as food.
"We've come a long way since our first Festival in 2005 when we only had a twenty or so exhibitors and a few hundred visitors," Terry Teale said.
"We persevered and last year we welcomed around 7,000 people across the weekend. We are now a well-established part of the Foodie calendar."
On July 6 and 7, visitors will be able to enjoy browsing 100 food and craft exhibits showcasing food from Italy, Spain, France, South Africa and India with classic flavours from Great Britain as well.
On the flying front, Shobdon's historic airfield, which was built to train glider pilots during the Second World War, will play host to dozens of visiting aircraft from around the country.
The highlight, weather permitting, will be flypasts by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. On the Saturday, a Spitfire and Hurricane will take to the skies above Herefordshire, and the only Lancaster Bomber still flying in the UK is expected on the Sunday.
Herefordshire Aero Club's Dawn Manning said: "As the only airfield of its kind in this area, it's fantastic for us to be able to showcase the opportunities to get involved in aviation that we have on our doorstep here in Herefordshire.
"At the festival in 2018, the airfield was the busiest it's been since its 1940's heyday and it's great that so many more people are becoming aware of what we offer here."
Live music, a packed arts and crafts marquee, classic vehicles and cooking demonstrations from top local chefs also form part of the packed line up.
Tickets cost £8 for adults, £2 for 5-16 year olds and under 5s free.
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