FOOD lovers will be heading to the north of the county on June 29 for the Shobdon Food and Flying Festival.

This year, for the first time, the event takes off on Shobdon Airfield and as well as food from more than 50 of the county’s finest producers, there will be helicopter displays and parachute jumps by the Armed Forces Pilgrims Display Team.

Visitors can also book a trial flight or have a go in a glider simulator.

In addition, there’ll be displays of modern and historic aircraft, as well as vintage vehicles and steam engines.

The helicopter and parachute displays are dependant on weather.

On the food and drink front there will be a raft of produce to taste and buy, including cheese, local meats, summer fruits, wines, ales, liqueurs, chocolate, cakes, smoothies, organic ice creams, local game pies, scotch eggs and other savouries, as well as jams and local honey.

The packed programme of cooking demonstrations by top chefs features everything from seasonal British fare and Indian cuisine to gluten free baking and there’s a bread-making master class alongside talks on food foraging and how to grow herbs.

That’s as well as live music, children’s entertainment, competitions, horticultural displays and arts and crafts.

Saturday night features a jazz and barbecue night with a grand auction of lots including a behind the scenes match-day tour of Worcestershire County Cricket Club, and meals out.

Proceeds from the weekend are to be split between Herefordshire Aero Club and the Shobdon Food Festival with the Food Festival supporting three causes this year.

They are Megan Baker House in Leominster, an educational facility that helps young people with motor disabilities; The Little Princess Trust in Hereford which supplies real hair wigs to children who have lost hair through illness; and Shobdon Church.