THE countdown has begun to this summer's Accrington Food and Drink Festival.

Last year's revamped event was one of the town's biggest crowd-pullers with more than 10,000 people enjoying a variety of tasty entertainment.

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Many of the same ingredients will be used this year including an array of stalls featuring regional food producers, live cookery demonstrations from Richard Fox and a continental food market in Broadway.

Uniformed actors from portraying 'Accrington Pals' will be present to give talks on the day.

A live Second World War re-enactment will also take place. 

The event will once again take place in Broadway and in and around the Market Hall on Saturday, June 4, with an iconic Spitfire fighter plane on display in the town centre.

This will be the second year that the Accrington Food and Drink Festival has been organised by Scott Dawson Advertising (SDA) as part of its civic pride initiative, working in partnership with Hyndburn Borough Council and the Accrington Town Team.

SDA spokesman Murray Dawson said they wanted to build on last year's success.

He said: "Having a tank parked in the town centre as part of the D-Day commemorations proved a very popular attraction so we wanted to go one better this year and have a Spitfire on display.

"That, and all the other attractions, certainly put Accrington Food Festival on the map for a must-see event this year."

Another huge hit last year and set to return for 2016 was a live Second World War re-enactment by the North West Military Collectors, which saw German and American GIs locked in an action-packed skirmish in the grounds of St James' Church.

This year also marks the centenary of one of the darkest days in Accrington's history, when the famous 'Accrington Pals' battalion suffered devastating losses on the opening day of the Battle of the Somme, during the First World War.

Rishton councillor Clare Cleary said: "Last year's food and drink festival was a huge success and this year's looks set to be even bigger and better.

"It's a superb family day out for all age groups to enjoy, so make Saturday, June 4 a date in your diary to come along and join in the fun."

Sponsorship has been secured from Altham-based Simon Jersey, which is celebrating 45 years in the area, and training provider North Lancs Training Group.

To find out more about the festival visit, www.accringtonfoodfestival.co.uk