FOODIES will be able to indulge next weekend when the popular Worcester Foodie Festival returns to the city centre.

More than 70 stalls offering food and drink from local businesses and specialist producers will be in the city centre from Friday, July 29 to Sunday, July 31 - with the festival lasting an extra day this year.

There will also be cookery demonstrations, master class workshops and food and drink matching sessions at the festival, organised by Worcester BID.

Cookery author Dean Edwards, from ITV's Lorraine, will headline the festival’s main stage in the High Street on the Saturday and sign books after the demonstrations.

Worcestershire based Fusion Brasserie chef Felice Tocchini will demonstrate a range of al fresco dining and tasty Italian recipes on the main stage throughout the event.

Visitors will find out how to make his summer pudding with basil and chocolate among other dishes.

Richard Fox who is renowned for cooking with beer as well as creating gourmet beer and food matches, will perform cooking demonstrations on the theme of love food, hate waste.

Meanwhile, visitors to the master class area in front of the Guildhall will learn about pairing cheeses with beer, wine and cider.

Cheese experts Martin Mills and Roy McDonald will introduce smorging – based on the Scandinavian Smørgåsbord.

Richard Everton from New Street based Bottles Wine Bar & Merchants and the Cornmarket Deli team will also be advising on great food and drink matches.

Young visitors can try their hands at food experiments based on exploding rockets, edible slime and fizzy mocktails, as well as fun pasta making and baking sessions, sponsored by Tesco Worcester at CrownGate’s Bell Square/Chapel Walk.

Roving street entertainment the Cheesy Rider comedy chefs and their quirky cocktail bar will be in the city along with grow your own gardeners on stilts.

Live musicians and Worcester Ukulele Club and the Worcester Concert Brass will bring the streets alive.

Many of Worcester's 150+ quality local restaurants, cosy cafés, stylish bars and traditional pubs are also taking part in the festival with food and drink themed activities, trails and competitions at participating local businesses.

Nadja von Dahlen, Worcester BID marketing and events manager, said: “The Worcester Foodie Festival is a great opportunity for people to discover and experience our fantastic city centre food and drink outlets, whether it’s by visiting the street stalls or venturing into businesses for a tasty treat."

The free event will be taking place throughout the city centre from 10am to 5.30pm on Friday, July 29 and Saturday, July 30 and from 11am to 4pm on Sunday, July 31.

More information is available at worcesterfoodiefestival.com, or by following @WorcFoodieFest on twitter or at www.facebook.com/FoodieWorcester.