RIVER Cottage cook Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall will be among the top chefs at this year’s Bridport Food Festival.

He will be among the experts demonstrating in the Festival Cookery Theatre at the festival’s main event in Asker Meadows on Saturday June 18.

He will also be judging the festival’s Bridport Bake Off cake competition during the day. The Asker’s extravaganza is the finale of a week of food related events for the Bridport News-backed festival.

Event organiser Amanda Streatfeild said: “Bridport has plenty to celebrate when it comes to food.

“It’s a testament not only to the importance of food to the local economy, but also enthusiasm of local people for good food.”

The Bridport Food Festival runs from June 12 to 18.

For the past two years Bridport was voted Best Food at the Taste of Dorset Awards.

Fearnley-Whittingstall officially opened the inaugural event in 2004.

He will be joined by a host of local chefs in Festival Cookery Theatre at Asker Meadows on June 18.

They will include Tim Attrill from Burton Bradstock’s Hive Beach Café and Karl Bashford of Powerstock’s Three Horseshoes as well as Bridport based Helen Choudhury of the Taj Mahal and Stephan Frigon of the Olive Tree.

Fearnley-Whittingstall will judge the Bridport Bake Off which includes two categories: Best cake using fresh vegetables and best cake using fresh ruit. Winners will receive a signed copy of the latest River Cottage Handbook: Cakes by Pam Corbin. To enter just bring one portion of a cake on a paper plate to the food festival ground by 11am on Saturday, June 18. Entry costs £1.

The Bridport Food Festival main event is free for under-14s and £2.50 on the day for adults. Visit Bridport’s Tourist information Centre or call 01308 424901 for advanced tickets at £2.

For details, visit bridportfoodfestival.com