A local food festival, which attracted nearly 1,000 visitors last year, is set to expand further.

Arnside and Silverdale Local Food Festival will be held on Saturday, July 14, at Gaskell Hall, Silverdale from 11am to 3pm.

Locally produced food such as bread, apple juice, preserves, ice cream, jams, pies, honey, chutneys, sauces, cordials, cheese, other dairy products, and garden plants and even dog treats will be on sale.

Fish will be on offer from Creative Seafoods, and there will be a huge variety of fresh fruit and veg from Grisedale's, while Burrow's famous butchers will be open all afternoon.

A barbecue will be sizzling away, with local sausages and veggie burgers from the RSPB, who will also be available to talk about their conservation work, and a bar supplied by the Old School Brewery will be on hand to quench visitors' thirst.

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Tea, fresh coffee from Atkinson's in Lancaster, and cakes from Wolf House will also be served.

Other attractions include a tombola, raffle and display by Silverdale St John’s School, and childrenshould be entertained with lots of free activities and prizes.

Martin Humphrey, who organises the annual food festival, said that it was a good time to sell locally produced food.

“Interest in local produce is ever growing,” he said. “The food we sell might come from a conservation orchard, a heritage garden or it is delicious ice cream produced on a local traditional dairy farm where the cows are kept outside during the summer months.

"Visitors can try and test lots of this unique food and drink before choosing what to buy, and there’s always the opportunity to talk to our stallholders about their produce.

"It’s possible to get all your weekend shopping done in one place at one time in a pleasant, welcoming and relaxed environment."

He added: “We have expanded further this year by launching the festival on Friday, July 13, at Wolf House Kitchen in Silverdale. They will be open all afternoon and early evening, serving delicious, home-made pizzas fresh from their brand new pizza oven in their attractive garden (or indoors), with a bar and live music. It should be a vibrant atmosphere.”

Mr Humphrey added: “Last year we had very nearly 1,000 visitors, so hopefully we are doing something right!”

Entry to all events is free and more information can be found on the Festival website www.arnsidesilverdalefestival.weebly.com