CELEBRITY chef Richard Fox will be the guest star at the Accrington Food and Drink Festival early next month.

Richard, dubbed The Beer Chef, will front this year’s cookery stage on Accrington’s Broadway on Saturday, June 6, with more than 4,000 people expected to attend the free festival, which was formerly known as the Lancashire Food Festival.

It has always proved to be a popular day with foodies and this year’s showcase promises much to enjoy and celebrate about the gourmet delights of the Red Rose county.

A host of culinary delights, proudly produced by local farmers and independent traders, will be available for visitors to sample during the special one-day event.

And Richard, who wrote The Food and Beer Cook Book and starred in the ITV series Men Brewing Badly alongside Neil Morrissey, is set to be the star attraction as he demonstrates his cooking skills.

Mr Fox, who has a strong family affinity with Lancashire, specialises in turning leftovers into gastronomic masterpieces.

The Accrington Food and Drink Festival has a proud history of attracting TV cooking personalities with James Martin and Gizzi Erskine among those to have previously attended.

The event will also mark the 71st anniversary of the D-Day landings, while two historic buses will transport families from around the area for a small fee.

Darwen Transport Trust has loaned organisers a Leyland Titan PD2 65-seat double-decker, and a Leyland Tiger PS1 35-seat bus.

They will take visitors from towns across Hyndburn to Accrington, where they can sample a host of culinary surprises, from freshly-made pies and black puddings to healthy juices and colourful cakes.

For more information about the festival, visit accringtonfoodfestival.co.uk or contact Kirsty at kirsty@scottdawson.co.uk or on 01282 426846.