TATTON Park wants to help put Knutsford town centre firmly on the culinary map.

The 1,000-acre estate is interested in linking with the town to promote its love of fine food and local produce.

"Knutsford, and I include Tatton in that, does have immense potential to be realised for its food businesses and the quality of them," said general manager Brendan Flanagan.

"This not only includes its restaurants which continue to expand but also food producers in the area."

Last week Belle Epoque chef David Mooney urged the people of Knutsford to hold their own food festival and attract thousands to the town.

He said Knutsford was renowned for its fine food and numerous restaurants but did little to promote it.

Later this month almost 10,000 visitors are expected to visit the North West Food Lovers Fair at Tatton Park.

But many will bypass the town on their way home.

The company, which organises the event, said they could consider holding another one in Knutsford at a different time. But yesterday (Tuesday) Mr Flanagan said the event at Tatton was the perfect one to expand into the town and include restaurants, pubs, business and local producers.

"I think there is a lot of potential to build on what we already do," he said. "Why not build on something that is already there?

"It would help to get it off the ground quicker."

Gourmet food tastings, cookery demonstrations and a farmers' market could be held in the town centre.

Celebrity chef Paul Heathcote, who is opening a restaurant on the site of the former Royal George Hotel next year, provides catering for functions at Tatton and it is hoped he might also get involved.

"There is a lot of potential in Knutsford as long as it is done in a way that people are complementing each other rather than competing," said Mr Flanagan.

Nantwich's food festival started life as a small food fair and is now one of the biggest in Britain, attracting thousands of visitors each year.

Chester also hosts its own food festival in the grounds of County Hall.

But Mr Flanagan said Knutsford was the perfect place for another event.

"It certainly has got all the ingredients to be a success," he said. If you are holding another food festival in Cheshire, Knutsford is the obvious place."