THOUSANDS of pounds are to be spent on drainage in a bid to save one of North Dorset’s biggest food events.

Festival organisers were forced to cancel the Sturminster Newton Cheese Festival last September after weeks of heavy rain flooded the town’s recreation ground.

Now more than £2,000 is to be spent to improve drainage at the gate from the recreation ground to Durrant Field to prevent another wash out.

Town council chairman Victor Fox, said councillors had felt obliged to support the efforts of festival organisers.

“The festival committee had offered to put up the money and we felt we ought to contribute. The cheese festival is one of the biggest events in the town. After last year, we’re hoping for fine weather,” said Cllr Fox.

The annual festival will be held for the tenth time this year. It was started in a bid to fill a void in the town left by the closure of the town’s cattle market.

More than 60 food producers, many of them from North Dorset, are expected to show their wares at this year’s event.

Cheese from Stock Gaylard, Winterborne Stickland and Cranborne Chase will be exhibited alongside puddings from Sturminster Newton, fudge from Stalbridge and pork from Bere Regis.

Cooking demonstrations in the Mousetrap marquee, up to 30 different types of beer and children’s entertainment, including a Punch and Judy show and circus skills, will be laid on for visitors.

The festival will be held on Sturminster Newton’s recreation ground on September 12 and 13, between 10am and 5pm. Entry costs £3 for adults. Admission is free for children under 14.

For more information, visit cheesefestival.co.uk.