A food festival which will shout about some of the finest produce Dartmoor has to offer, is expecting a record turn-out.

The Moretonhampstead Festival of Food, Drink and the Arts will boast more than 90 exhibitors when it takes place across the town next month.

Celebrity chef Michael Caines will officially open the event on March 10, and will give the first in a series of food demonstrations.

Yesterday, organiser Bob Small said: "Michael is a great supporter of Moretonhampstead and all things local. It's a real asset to have him onboard."

The festival, which will largely take place in the streets of the town, is free to enter, but each demonstration costs £2.

Mr Small said it was a "real boost" to the area's culinary businesses, and said there was a vibrant atmosphere as well as great-value offers on produce direct from the supplier.

"Last year the streets were packed. We had about 5,000 visitors, and we're hoping to attract even more people this year," he said.

Marc Hardiman, head chef at Bovey Castle, where the event was launched yesterday, will be among those to demonstrate his skills at the event.

He said: "The Moretonhampstead Festival of Food, Drink and the Arts recognises the finest produce sourced from the moorland community and beyond, consistently drawing in huge crowds by its appeal as the first food festival of the year and its Dartmoor location.

"This is the first year that Bovey Castle is involved in the food festival and I am looking forward to my cooking demonstration, it's the opportunity to show people how chefs transform produce into fine food and highlight the importance of its provenance and seasonality."