THE countdown is on for the 10th Bolton Food and Drink Festival — with less than four weeks to go until the showpiece event.

There are still tickets on sale to see celebrity chefs — with stars such as John Torode, James Martin and Michael Caines set to take centre stage.

The 10th foodie fest, which is this year sponsored by Aldi, will also feature a demonstration by actress and Celebrity Masterchef winner Lisa Faulkner, who will appear at the event for the first time.

The fun will kick off on Friday August 28 with stalls, demonstrations and a host of other activities taking place across the town centre until Monday August 31.

Youngsters will be delighted to hear that children’s television star Katy Ashworth will be performing half hour live shows at 10.30am and 2.30am from Friday to Sunday, as well as a storytelling session at 12.30pm.

In honour of the festival’s 10th birthday, Katy will host birthday cake decorating classes at 10.30am, 12.30pm and 2.30pm on Monday, August 31. Tickets cost £1.50.

Foodie fans can still pick up tickets to see the various celebrity chef demonstrations for £10 (premium) and £6 (standard) from the Bolton Octagon Theatre, via boltonfoodanddrinkfestival.com or by calling 01204 520661 — the box office is open from 9am until 7pm, Monday to Saturday.

Festival newbie Lisa Faulkner will be in the cookery theatre on Victoria Square on Saturday August 29 at 11am and 1pm.

Aussie star John Torode will take to the stage on Sunday August 30 and James Martin will round off the festival on Monday August 31, both with demonstrations at 11am, 1pm and 3pm.

Before that, two Michelin-starred chef Michael Caines will open the festival on Friday with a free show in the cookery marquee.

That evening, the celebrity chef will further demonstrate his culinary expertise at a special Gala Dinner, which will take place for the first time in the festival marquee in Victoria Square. Tickets cost £60, with £5 from each sale going to Bolton Hospice.

Cllr Nick Peel said: “This event always goes from strength to strength and we will have more stalls than ever this time around.

“It is weekends like this when Bolton is truly at its best and we are looking forward to welcoming people from all over once again.”

The Market Place Shopping Centre is one of the festival’s sponsors and will this year host a special pop-up stall in its refurbished underground vaults, featuring winner of television show The Taste, Debbie Halls-Evans.

Centre manager Nikki Wilson-Cooke said: “There is always such a buzz about the town during the festival and we are really pleased to be more involved than ever this year.”