LEAFY Knutsford has been casting envious glances at Nantwich's burgeoning food festival - as restauranteurs in the stockbroker's paradise wonder why they have been left in the shade.

Our Cheshire cousins might be home to Ashes hero Andrew Flintoff and countless Premiership household names - but it seems that the cognoscenti now want to steal our culinary crown.

Only in its fourth year, Nantwich's four-day fiesta is now recognised as one of the UK's most illustrious attractions for gastronomes, attracting the likes of Ready Steady Cook's Ross Burden and Kevin Woodford to South Cheshire.

Last month's festival brought 30,000 people to town and, according to borough councillor Penny Butterill, produced untold benefits for the local economy.

But green-eyed Knutsfordians, who pride themselves on having a reputation as "Cheshire's gourmet capital", appear eager to launch a copycat venture.

"Knutsford is known as a gourmet paradise," chef David Mooney, of Knutsford's Belle Epoch, told our sister paper, The Knutsford Guardian.

The report even has a sly dig at the town being more famous for producing cheese than culinary excellence!

Mr Mooney, aged 42, cooked Arley wild boar sausages and Gressingham duck for visitors to the Nantwich festival last weekend and will take part again in 2006.

He added: "Knutsford is the gastro capital of Cheshire. If Nantwich can hold a food festival then there is no reason why we can't."

Officials from Made In Cheshire, which promotes fine produce, have signalled their enthusiasm for a Knutsford replica of Nantwich's lipsmacking summit.

"Knutsford would be a very good place for it with all its restaurants," said project manager Jane Casson.

"It has quite a thriving farmers' market and we are always keen to encourage people to eat local produce.

"Hosting a food festival in Knutsford could not only entice thousands to the town, but also help to develop contacts for businesses."

Supermarket chain Booths, which has a Knutsford branch, was also supportive

A spokesman added: "This sounds like a great idea. Anything that encourages local people to appreciate local food mirrors Booths' philosophy."