BOLTON'S annual Food and Drink Festival will be back on Friday for another four days of bank holiday weekend foodie heaven.

Now in its 13th year it is set to be bigger and better than ever, say organisers

The sizzling event aims to attract more than 250,000 people and promises to be jam-packed with celebrity chefs, special events, live music, street performers, family fun, and a world of cuisine.

There will be more than 200 food, drink, arts and crafts stalls, live music and, highlight of the showcase, the celebrity chefs.

This year the special guest top chefs will be Michael Caines, Nadiya Hussain, Ainsley Harriott and James Martin who will be staging a host of cookery demonstrations over the weekend.

Making a debut to the festival line-up this year is the Gin Festival, in the main marquee from 6pm.

Markets open from 10am to 6pm, in and around Victoria Square, Deansgate, Market Street, and Oxford Street. The Arts Circle and craft traders will be located on Newport Street and teenage market on Hotel Street.

There will be five bars around the site in Le Mans Crescent, Victoria Square Oxford Street and Corporation Street.

A musical backdrop will be provided at the Festival Stage on Le Mans Crescent and Real Ale Bar stage on Victoria Square. The Festival stage will feature a range of musical talent including: indie rock band, Our Fold, Jam tribute band The Jam’d, New Order tribute band True Order and 80s funk band, The Beat Goes Bang.

Live music is on daily from around 11am until late Friday to Sunday, closing at 6pm on Monday.

Michelin-starred Michael Caines will launch the festival and showcase his skills at a free cookery demo at 12.30pm on Friday, at Bolton Market.

James Martin will also cut a special cake to celebrate his 10th appearance, made by Bolton baker Kay Gajra. Kay will also help to judge the festival’s first cake-off competition on Monday.

A spectacular cake designed by expert baker, Rose Dummer, to celebrate Bolton Museum’s multi-million Egyptology gallery opening next month, will also be unveiled at the festival.

Stone Soup, a children’s theatre show, will be on at the Albert Halls across the weekend .

Crompton Kitchen will host free family activities and cookery demos Saturday to Monday, 11am to 3pm.

Leader of Bolton Council, Cllr Linda Thomas, said: “This year’s festival is set to be bigger and better than ever. We are delighted that the festival has become so widely recognised for its range and quality. There will be something for everyone.”

Aldi’s regional managing director for Bolton, Ruth Doyle, added: “It’s our fourth year in a row supporting the event and we’re as excited as ever to be part of this celebration of British food culture.

Free parking is available at the Octagon, Deane Road, and Topp Way NCP multi-storey car parks on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

Bolton Food and Drink Festival is free to attend. Tickets for celebrity chef demos, special events and Stone Soup theatre are available from £5 and can be purchased online at www.quaytickets.com. On the day tickets can be purchased from the information point on Victoria Square.

For more information, please visit www.boltonfoodanddrinkfestival.com or follow us on Twitter/Instagram @BoltonFoodFest and on Facebook @BoltonFoodAndDrinkFestival.