ORGANISERS of this year's Christchurch Food Festival are promising more than ever for visitors to the popular annual event.

And they've come up with a novel way of making the journey to the festival less stressful than usual.

For the first time they will be operating a so-called Park and Stride car park, offering low cost parking and a pleasant walk to the town centre from the Stanpit recreation ground on the outskirts of the town.

The car park will be operated by the local Air Traffic Corps just a 15-minute walk from the action and will cost just £5 for the whole day.

Those behind the scheme hope it will keep congestion to a minimum as thousands head for the festival.

The 18th annual festival runs for three weeks in May, with the festival market to be held in the High Street and on the Quomps at Christchurch Quay on May 6 and 7.

The Highcliffe Revival Food Festival will be held on the weekend of May 20 and 21 and events will take place in restaurants, pubs and cafes across Christchurch from May 1 to 21.

Highlights of the festival market will include the demonstration marquee, featuring local chefs and celebrity chefs including Dean Edwards, Master Chef Winner and resident chef on ITV’s Lorraine and Lesley Waters, the Festival’s Patron as well as chocolatier Alana Spencer who was the 2016 winner of BBC's The Apprentice.

A range of stalls will be selling food and drink and the event includes a beer festival.

The Quomps will also be the new home for Kids' Kitchen, giving children a chance to try their hands at preparing some tasty dishes either on their own or with a parent or guardian. Tickets for the sessions are selling fast and can be bought from The Regent Centre online or in person.

The festival is also set to include barbecue demonstrations in Saxon Square and an evening of food and dancing called the Perfect Hoedown Throwdown on Friday May 5.

On the evening of Saturday May 6, Dean Edwards will be demonstrating some of his signature dishes and this will be followed by supper and entertainment. Both events are ticketed so visit the festival website for more information and to book tickets.

For details of all that is on offer, go to christchurchfoodfest.co.uk and highclifferevivalfoodfestival.co.uk.