ORGANISERS of the Ribble Valley’s biggest celebration of local meat and vegetables are appealing for volunteers.

Helpers are needed to run August’s fifth Clitheroe Food Festival, which features a food and drink producers’ market, live cookery demonstrations, children’s food-oriented activities and historical displays.

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All people have to be is 16 and over and have a knowledge of the town and they will develop skills to boost their CV and receive a free T-shirt and lunch.

The event is getting bigger but Julie Whalley, of Lancashire Bites and the festival co-ordinator, says they will not experience the common pitfalls faced by many events that try to expand too quickly.

She said: “So many event organisers push to grow their event in terms of capacity of exhibitors, whilst not concentrating on the quality nor the capabilities of their event staff. This can be very detrimental.

“Our aims for Clitheroe Food Festival have always been simple and clear, to ‘showcase the finest Ribble Valley and Lancashire food and drink producers’ whilst our objectives include ‘supporting the local economy by encouraging new footfall throughout the year into the town, and providing the opportunity for rural business to employment’.

“Physically we are restricted in the town centre by space, and also by the fact that the town’s topographical layout poses challenges for products to remain on a table.

“We do utilise the Castle Field for the fun fair, archery, treasure hunts and of course we have the castle and the museum.

“However, we make the best use of what we have and strive each year to find new good quality and start- up food and drink producers in Lancashire. “This year I have seen a significant increase in the number of events on offer but the number of food and drink producers in Lancashire able to attend them all has fallen.

“This has been mainly through positive effects of the buy local campaign, with many of those we have previously hosted moving into the retail sector and growing their businesses substantially in the process.”

For details of the event visit clitheroefoodfestival.co.uk.

An event spokesman said: “Come and get involved by being be a Festival Friend. For more information email tom.pridmore@ribblevalley.gov.uk.”

All the events are held on Saturday, August 8, with prices varying for each event.