MORE than 14,000 are expected to taste te culinary delights at this year’s Accrington Food Festival.

Celebrity chef Richard Fox will return to the annual event on Saturday, June 3, preparing and cooking spicy Moroccan lamb burgers with aubergine pickle.

The day will also include a Second World War re-enactment in the grounds of St James’ Church at 1pm as well as a hook a duck stall and a themed world record attempt.

There will also be more than 75 stalls offering foods from North America, Asia, Africa and Europe and from the heart of Accrington.

Mr Fox said: “I’m absolutely delighted to be returning to Accrington.

“Always a great event, always busy and everyone gets involved.”

The festival will also see the launch of an initiative to restore a 1974 Leyland Leopard which saw many years of service on the streets of the town.

It is painted in the colours of the Accrington Pals, the 11th Lancashire Regiment, to commemorate the battalion’s heroics during the First World War.

There will also be free transport to the event on a restored 1968 Leyland Titan double-decker bus from pick-up points in Great Harwood, Rishton, Baxenden, Church, Clayton-le-Moors, Huncoat, Oswaldtwistle, Rawtenstall and Haslingden.

Mr Fox explained his menu choice for this year as being prompted by the coming barbecue season.

He said: “This is a burger which is a bit different, a bit exotic but which everyone can make quickly and easily at home with almost all the ingredients being used in every day cooking and sourced on the day from Accrington Market.”

“More than 14,000 people came last year, 40 per cent more than the previous year, making me feel really welcome and the quality of the local food was just outstanding.”

His demonstrations will take place from 10am to 3pm.