DISAPPOINTED foodies are being given a tasty treat following the cancellation of this year’s Alnwick Food Festival.

Distinct Darlington, the town’s Business Improvement District company, is inviting visitors to enjoy a weekend of food and family entertainment at the annual Distinctly Delicious Darlington Festival of Food on May 9 and 10.

The two-day festival includes a programme of family-based entertainment and gives visitors and residents the chance to sample everything from handmade chocolate to freshly baked bread from some of the town’s best independent and artisan food producers.

“It’s a great shame to hear that this year’s Alnwick Food Festival is not taking place. It’s always been very popular, but we hope disappointed food lovers will consider coming to our great event instead,” said Alex Hirst, manager of Distinct Darlington.

“Last year’s first Distinctly Delicious was a huge success and this year’s festival promises to be even bigger and better.

“It’s a great opportunity to show visitors exactly what Darlington has to offer and give everybody a great day out too.”

Food stalls from local businesses will be open from 10am to 5pm each day on High Row, while a variety of street food will be available at Joseph Pease Place from noon until 5pm.

Throughout the weekend top chefs will also be holding cookery demonstrations in the big tent in the town centre, encouraging residents and visitors to experiment with new skills, flavours and cuisines.

The festival will end with the return of the Locomotion cake parade through the town centre.

Local businesses, schools and community groups will be decorating cakes, in homage to Darlington’s rich railway history, to represent the 32 carriages pulled on the first ever Locomotion steam train in 1825.

For more information visit darlofoodfest.org or call 01325-463002.