THOUSANDS thronged the streets of Accrington as the annual food festival stretched its legs and took over Broadway and Blackburn Road for the day.

Usually the culinary cavalcade has been held in Accrington Town Hall’s ballroom with an outside marquee.

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But promoters Scott Dawson took the mouthwatering meals to the masses and lined up Jamaican-flavoured jerk chicken from Sheffield, chillis from Wiltshire and a host of continental and south Asian offerings.

Top chef Richard Fox, otherwise known as the Beer Chef, following in the footsteps of previous guest stars James Martin and Gizzi Erskine, performed a series of live shows for the crowds.

Not only did he share his recipe for spiced, deep fried, crispy tripe but also fetched up an Accrington Pals related beer dish, an ale and Lancashire cheese pizza with fennel and tenderstem salad.

Fox was introduced by an Accrington ever-present, Storage Hunters star Jesse McClure, who later posed with fans on a Vickers Abbott tank, part of a Pals-related fundraiser at the top of St James Street.

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Jesse, who has become an adopted Stanley supporter, has been filming a UK version of his Dave show, which is due to start airing from tomorrow.

And later Harrogate-born Fox said he ‘loved every minute’ of his Lancashire day out.

Elsewhere Hyndburn Heritage Museum showcased a World War Two Jeep in the Arndale Centre and youngsters were encouraged to ‘dig for victory’ at the Market Hall, marking the 71st anniversary of the D-Day landings.

There was also a re-enactment of a Second World War battle – in the grounds of St James’ Church – where thrilled visitors watched up to 15 German troops fight 25 American GIs.