Now in its 12th year, the Ludlow Marches Food and Drink Festival is a celebration of local produce and of the area itself - the historic town, with over 500 listed buildings and an 11th century castle, is the perfect spot in which to spend a relaxed weekend sampling fine fare and supporting small local businesses.

Ludlow has been described as a food and drink 'capital', featuring several restaurants with an international reputation. For example, Hibiscus boasts two Michelin stars, a rarity in the UK, and six other local venues are listed in the prestigious Michelin guide. Traditional pubs and tea rooms offer a true taste of England.

There are also plenty of shops selling traditional produce, including cheeses, organic food, beers and ciders, fruit and vegetables. The town boasts no less than five butchers, while Price's bakery uses locally-brewed Hobson's ale to create its renowned dark beer and walnut loaf.

The festival began in 1995, when members of the Ludlow and District Chamber of Trade and Commerce decided to boost the town's image and attract more tourism - as well as promoting small food and drink businesses. The town's picturesque square, where street markets have been held since the 12th century, made it an ideal venue for a food fair, and the inaugural event marked the start of a success story that has seen the festival expand year by year.

This year's event, running from Friday, September 8 to Sunday, September 10, features more than 150 producers and suppliers of fine food and drink, plus entertainment for all the family. The castle itself, now an important part of the festival, hosts a Food and Drink Fair, with visitors able to enjoy access to the extensive grounds as well as sampling the wares of over 80 independent producers.

Demonstrations and talks will also take place in the castle gardens, while the weekend's various competitions include a madcap Waiters' Race and Young Chef contest, as well as finding the best cake, sandwich and pork pie of the festival. Ludlow's twin towns in France and Italy will be represented, with the Taste of Italy exhibit offering olive oil, peppers and Valpolicella wine, and the Taste of Normandy bringing cheeses, Calvados and vinegars.

Meanwhile, in the town itself, various markets will be in operation, while the interactive Sausage Trail and Festival Loaf competitions allow visitors to taste and judge produce from the local shops. Beer lovers will be in heaven with both a Real Ale Trail and the Nelson Inn Beer Festival, featuring themed beers and ciders plus live music on the Friday and Saturday evenings.

Even before the festival begins, visitors to Ludlow can take part in the Magnalonga on August 20 - this six-mile walk through the lovely countryside includes plenty of refreshment stops to sample local food and drink.

For further information on the festival, visit www.foodfestival.co.uk or call 01584 873957.