A month-long celebration of fantastic food and drink is taking over a town this summer.

The Ashford Food and Drink Festival will be showcasing some of Kent’s tastiest eats, as well as putting on events such as wine tasting, pizza making, teddy bear picnics, food markets and more.

This year’s festival launches with Ashfood, a family-friendly event at Elwick Place boasting food stalls, live entertainment, cocktails, fresh seafood and music from local covers band Whiskey and Wine.

Throughout the month, visitors can also enjoy workshops and tasting sessions in everything from craft beer and small plates to English wine and Italian cooking.

There will also be lots of fun activities, including a two-day summer BBQ party with discounted drinks from Curious Brewery and a live show from cooking comedian George Egg, who will be showing you how to make gourmet food in the most unconventional ways.

If you fancy yourself a dab hand in the kitchen, you can enter your eats into a variety of competitions, or put your favourite filling forward for the Great Ashford Sandwich Competition and be in with a chance of your entry going on the menu at the Low Key Tap Room in Bank Street.

The festival ends with a free wrap party at Coachworks, with street food, drinks and live music.

You can find the full programme events online here.

Keli Nolan-Lyons from Ashford Borough Council said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the brilliant businesses and offers we have in Ashford town centre, combined with those slightly further afield. There really is something for everyone to enjoy throughout July.

“We hope residents and visitors enjoy discovering something new, as well as revisiting old favourites by raising a glass or savouring a dish as we celebrate the variety of food and drink offerings we have here in Ashford.”

The festival runs from Saturday, June 29 to Wednesday, July 31 and is mostly free to the public, however, some events are ticketed separately.