FOOD fanatics are in for a treat at the Alcester and Forest of Arden Spring Food Festival to be held later this month.

Organisers report that bookings for the fifth spring festival, to be held on Thursday, May 17, are well ahead of previous years despite a far stricter policy this year on both the numbers of each food category and a far closer scrutiny of quality of the products offered.

The festival was recently covered in a national magazine, Country Homes and Interior's, which declared Alcester one of the three "Best Food Festivals in Britain".

To cope with the crowds experienced at the first autumn festival held last October, the Park & Ride base has been moved to much larger and well-signed car parking on Adams Way on the Arden Forest Industrial Estate and Dudleys Coaches are providing an additional coach.

This year many local organisations are working with the organisers to ensure continued success, including the Scouts, Alcester Round Table, Alcester Town Council and the Court Leet.

The event will take place in High Street, Church Street and around the Town Hall with disabled parking available on Henley Street, and entry is completely free.