MELKSHAM has prepared itself for its first ever food and drink festival, which organisers and civic leaders hope will put the town on the map.

Although the seven-day festival is officially launched today, Saturday saw the first of several demonstrations by Michelin starred celebrity chef Martin Blunos, who has signed up to be the face of the festival.

The star of TV cookery shows including BBC’s Great Food Live cooked up a storm in Leekes department store in Beanacre Road yesterday, where he demonstrated his skills in one of the shop’s kitchens.

Devizes celebrity chef and restaurant owner Peter Vaughan, who owns The Bistro and Cookery School, will also be taking part in cookery demonstrations during the festival.

The festival will launch today with a whole day of events in and around the Market Place, including stalls and a milk churn race.

Graham Ellis, president of Melksham Chamber of Commerce, said he hoped the festival would help boost the fortunes of local businesses.

He said: “The festival will help suppliers in the area gain visibility for their products, hotels with restaurants and other eating establishments attract new customers through their doors, and will attract visitors from near and far to take a look at Melksham and see what the town and area have to offer.

“Events such as this help make Melksham a destination that people want to travel to, and if they like what they find, they will visit again and again, long after the festival is over.”

Julie Cooper from FAB!, the festival organisers, said: “It looks as if it’s going to be an exciting day today.

“I would love to see lots of people coming to join in the fun as there is so much to see and do.”

Martyn Lewis, head of marketing at Leekes, the main sponsors, said: “A lot of the people that work here are local. They are proud of where they are from and they want to be a part of it.

“Staff love this kind of thing because it means people that might not have been to the shop before come in and there is an excitement in the air – a buzz.”

The store, which is supplying a kitchen for the cookery demonstrations being held in the Assembly Hall throughout the week, became involved after employee Simon Bridgford-Whittick, a town councillor, asked if they could play a part.

Mr Lewis said: “We decided that if we were to be involved we wanted to do so properly.”

The ArtHouse Cafe in Market Place and Lovejoys Foodstore in High Street are giving children the chance to enter their Day in the Life of a Carrot competition.

To enter children aged between five and eight have to draw a carrot and those between nine and 11 must draw a storyboard about a carrot’s journey from the ground to the plate.

Entries will be displayed in the ArtHouse Cafe and Mr Blunos will present prizes.

A second competition being run by George Ward School invited children to design a healthy pasta bake for Melksham using local ingredients.

Food and Drink Festival Menu

Sunday, May 3

Melksham Market Day Festival

Cookery demonstrations at Melksham Assembly Hall by Martin Blunos and Peter Vaughan at 11.30am, 1pm and 2.30pm

Festival stalls in the Market Place including Sandridge Farm, Beechfield, Sweeneys, Jaquie’s Homemade Sweets, Neston Park Farm Shop and Thip Thai Cuisine

A milk churn race in the Market Place between midday-3.30pm

Tuesday, May 5

Ashers licensed cafe in High Street will serving locally sourced food from a tailor-made menu

A food demonstration by Melksham Women’s Institute and Thip Thai Cuisine will be held at 7pm in the Assembly Hall.

Peter Vaughan will give cookery demonstrations at Selwood Housing from 2-3pm and sign books in Melksham Library at midday

Wednesday, May 6

Pie and Pudding night from 7pm, Conigre Hotel, Semington Road

George Ward School pupils will watch the celebrity chefs cooking in the Assembly Hall from 1.45-2.45pm

Open morning at Broughton Road Pre-School will give children the chance to learn about planting their own vegetables

Thursday, May 7

Tea dance in the Assembly Hall from 2-4pm

Safari Supper at three locations. Tickets from The Conigre Hotel on Semington Road

Friday, May 8

Poetry evening at the ArtHouse Cafe in Market Place on the theme Eat, Drink and Be Merry

Saturday, May 9

The ArtHouse Cafe cream tea raffle from 2.30pm until close

More details on www.melkshamfoodfestival.co.uk.