THOUSANDS of visitors will pour into Nantwich this week to sample delicious chocolates, sumptuous food and fabulous champagne at Britain's tastiest food festival.

This year's festival, which runs until Sunday, will be bigger and better than ever before, with over 2,000 regionally-produced gourmet foods, guided beer and wine tastings and a spectacular chocolate experience to tempt the taste buds.

As well as the champagne tasting and chocolate appreciation extravaganza, food lovers will be able to feast on the products of over 90 specialist producers in the gourmet food marquee, while 30 local producers will also be showcasing their goods at the farmers' market, widely regarded as one of the finest in Britain.

People will learn from the professionals at close quarters in a series of celebrity chef demonstrations, headlined by television's Kevin Woodford and Ross Burden, while healthy eating expert Amanda Grant will be on hand to give practical cookery and health advice to youngsters.

For non-Dabbers, there will be guided food trails around the town for people to sample the best speciality retailers, pubs, cafes and restaurants, and lovers of the amber nectar can sample more than 60 beers and ciders at the popular CAMRA beer festival.

Last year's festival attracted more than 25,000 visitors to the town, and with numbers expected to be even higher this year, Malbank School and Brine Leas High School have agreed to open their town centre car parks to accommodate the increased traffic.