An acclaimed food retailer will be channelling the spirit of Hansel and Gretel and the Brothers Grimm at a Halloween-themed fun day later this month.

Macknade Fine Foods is hosting the fun day for primary schoolchildren, which it hopes will inspire them to enter Masterchef-style kitchen contest Young Cooks.

Macknade says it is particularly keen to see entries in the competition’s family category.

Children aged five to 11 are invited to Macknade’s Flagship Food Hall in Faversham on Thursday October 24 to take part in a variety of food and craft activities, including pumpkin carving and biscuit decorating.

Wasted Kitchen will be heading up the pumpkin carving and sharing its ideas for what to do with left-over pumpkins after Halloween.

For young aspiring bakers, there will be an opportunity to create spooky designs for cakes and biscuits.

And Whitstable firm Slumber Teepees will create a special activity corner, where children will be able to enjoy glitter face-painting and a fancy dress competition children are invited to come dressed in Halloween-themed clothing.

Macknade marketing manager Rosie Collins said: ““This event is all about inspiring families to have fun together with food this half-term.

“We would be absolutely delighted if it encourages people to submit entries for the family category of Young Cooks, which we are sponsoring for the second year running.

“We appreciate that some children may feel a little bit nervous about preparing dishes in a competition format, so the family category gives them the opportunity to take part with their relatives.”

Young Cooks coordinator Hannah Hawksworth said: “This looks like such a fantastic event, and I am sure it succeeds in inspiring more family entries for Young Cooks.

“I would add that the partners taking part with children in the family category don’t have to be relatives. Children can also take part with carers, teachers and other school, college or youth-group staff or volunteers.”

The deadline for submitting recipe entries for Young Cooks is Wednesday, November 6.

Organised by the KM Charity Team, the competition is open to young people aged six to 19 across the south-east.

Entrants are invited to submit recipes that are healthy and delicious, with shortlisted finalists being invited to recreate them for a team of judges at a Masterchef-style event in November.

The winners will share £500 in prize money, and there will be separate primary-school, family, secondary-school and overall winners announced.

Apart from Macknade, Young Cooks is supported by the Dog at Wingham, the Southern Co-op, Broadstairs College, SE Medical, Principals by CH & Co Group, Chequers Kitchen, Brakes, Golding Homes, Three R's Teacher Recruitment, Kent Catering Services, Whole School Meals and Taylor Meats.

Find out more at www.youngcooks.org.uk.

And to sign up for Macknade’s Halloween fun day, visit https://macknade.com/event/half-term-halloween-fun/ or email events@macknade.com. There are two sessions available– morning or afternoon – and the cost is £5 per child.