TWO days of activities are planned to mark the official launch of the county's flagship food and drink training centre.

Core Food & Drink will be unveiled on Friday and Saturday, September 15 and 16, at the Pershore College site.

The centre will provide specialist expertise for the food and drink industry in the form of training and education, innovative research and development programmes, consultancy, analytical and microbiology food testing services together with state of the art cider making, brewing and contract processing facilities.

The aim of the facility, which has taken more than a year to develop, is to strengthen the industries' capabilities to manufacture, quality assure and promote safe, high-quality products to meet customers' needs.

Events planned for the two-day launch include guided tours, a beer and cider festival, tasting sessions and sales and a Heart of England Fine Foods marquee.

"This is a very important event for us," said marketing manager Sarah Kirkham.

"It provides an excellent opportunity for visitors to come and look at our facilities and meet the personnel."