A TOWN is to launch a week of celebration of local food businesses with a special street party this weekend.

Stokesley Food Week runs until October 7 and will showcase the town’s restaurants, cafes, bars, food producers and retailers.

It will begin on Sunday, October 1 with food and entertainment throughout the town, including a food and drink market on The Plain, outside the Town Hall, a Prosecco bar at Chapter’s Deli and live music, food demonstrations and free food and drink samples.

As well as the special launch event, other highlights of this year’s Stokesley Food Week include a special ‘Gin and Jazz’ party in the Town Hall on Friday, October 6 which will offer over 40 gins as well as a range of canapes and live music, wine-tasting with Sharman Wines at Chapter’s Hotel on October 4 and a ‘Super Farmers Market’ on Saturday, October 7 when the award-winning Northern Dales Farmers Market will host its biggest-ever market on The Plain featuring a range of local producers from across the North of England.

Businesses in and around Stokesley will also be running a range of offers across the week with special discounts and new product showcases.

Stokesley Food Week is organised by Stokesley Town Council, with support from a range of local businesses and organisations, and launched in 2015.

Ian Blakemore, town councillor, said: “Enthusiasm for Stokesley Food Week has grown hugely year on year- not just within the town but also from around the region."

Stewart Brennan, town councillor, said: “It’s great to see such a big appetite for Stokesley Food Week - and so many people from outside of the town visiting.

"It’s all about our local restaurants, pubs, cafes and food retailers promoting their own special offers for the week and making Stokesley an even better place to dine out and to shop.

"We really hope to build upon the success of previous years and to make this year bigger and better than ever before, encouraging more people to visit our market town.”

For more details visit; Facebook.com/StokesleyFoodWeek