A MOUTH-WATERING wait for lovers of fine cuisine finally comes to an end tomorrow with the launch of Christchurch's latest - and biggest - food festival.

The borough will be thrown into a feeding frenzy this weekend as the Daily Echo-backed FoodFest 3 serves up a host of tasty treats, from an international street market to a beer and wine-swigging extravaganza.

Ten days of finger-licking, lip-smacking fun across pubs, restaurants, hotels and other venues kicks off tomorrow with the town's traditional pancake race along Church Street at 11am.

This year's contest is organised by Splinters restaurant and Suzette's pancake house, and sponsored by Lloyds TSB, with a string of local business teams competing for a cash prize and the chance of a year's free banking.

The starter menu continues with a family barbecue on the lawn of the Avonmouth Hotel, Mudeford, at 12.30pm, and sample dishes from towns and cities named Christchurch across the world served at the East Close Country Hotel, Hinton, from 7pm.

Main courses start coming thick and fast on Saturday, with the return of the hugely popular fresh food market in the town centre for two full days.

More than 40 stalls featuring home-grown produce from around the region will pack into High Street, while around 20 traders from France will be selling breads, meats, olives, cheeses, oysters and more in Saxon Square.

Visitors can also enjoy a charity barbecue outside the Priory gates in Church Street on Sunday, while the Regent Centre will highlight food on film with the feature What's Cooking? showing on Friday and Saturday nights.

Ye Old George Inn will be slaking thirsts with a beer and wine festival from noon on Saturday and Sunday.

Mayor Cllr Josephine Spencer will officially open FoodFest 3 in High Street at 11am on Saturday, and organiser Mary Reader said there will be plenty for all the family to savour.

"There will be stilt walkers, clowns, fire eaters and live music in the town centre throughout the weekend, and we hope the public really gets behind these events'" she said.

"Most of the work for the festival has been done by dedicated volunteers and, with luck, the weather will be kind to us."

A full programme of events is available from Christchurch Information Centre on 01202 471780 and on the website (www.christchurchfoodfest.co.uk).