ACCRINGTON Food and Drink Festival will have a distinctive heritage theme this year – but we’re not talking unusual types of potatoes or apples.

As the festival falls on Saturday, June 6, – the 71st anniversary of the D-Day landings – the organisers have decided to commemorate the anniversary with a selection of wartime activities.

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The main event will be a re-enactment of a Second World War battle – in the grounds of St James Church – where visitors will be able to watch up to 15 German troops fight 25 American GIs.

The North West Military Collectors are behind the re-enactment which starts at 1pm, just one of a range of events planned to commemorate the anniversary including a tank outside the Town Hall and a replica Jeep inside the Arndale Centre. Members of the Military Collectors will also be on hand to answer questions about life during the Second World War.

There’ll also be a “Dig for Victory” attraction outside the Town Hall – Incredible Edibles Accrington and Sandy Lane Gardening Group will have a raised bed of edibles; flowers, herbs and vegetables. Children can come and plant a seed or seedling to take away and have their own Incredible Edible at home. There will also be a cake decorating competition all day inside the Market Hall.

Continuing the American theme, Jessie McClure of Storage Hunters will be returning to Accrington to recreate the American GI’s favourite, grilled cheese, at 2pm.

He will be joined by one of the festival’s star attractions, chef Richard Fox, who wrote The Food and Beer Cook Book and starred in the ITV series Men Brewing Badly alongside the actor Neil Morrissey.

There will also be local and international food stalls, a magician, music and lots of displays and food and wine tastings from 9am-4pm.

For further details go to: www.accringtonfood festival.co.uk