A MAJOR food event in North Yorkshire is looking for local people to join its team of volunteers, as it prepares to make its return this June.

Northallerton’s Homegrown Food Festival is looking for local people to join its team of volunteers as it continues to grow.

Last year more than 9,000 people visited the award-winning event at Applegarth in Northallerton, which was started seven years ago.

As a result of its increasing popularity, more volunteers are needed to join the team.

The festival organisers are seeking any support people can offer with the planning of the event, including organising bands, site planning, fundraising, booking activities, updating the website and working with local businesses.

Chair of the delivery team, Sally Anderson, said: ‘The Homegrown Food Festival is such a heart-warming day that really brings our community together. We are so proud of how it has grown but if more help is not found we really will have to consider the future of the event as it continues to grow every year.”

The delivery team meets once a month, but volunteers can provide as much or as little time as they can.

The Homegrown Festival stages popular stalls, live music and children’s activities, as well as a range of outdoor cookery demonstrations, camp fires and barbecues.

Well-known, local chefs also take part. More than100 local producers also took part in last year’s event including the likes of Angel's Share Bakery and Bleikers Smokehouse.

The aim of the Homegrown Food Festival is to showcase local producers, international street food and local musicians and offer ideas for growing food at home.

Anyone interested in volunteering can contact Sally Anderson on 07906 662403. The first meeting of 2018 will take place on Tuesday, January 23 at 7pm at the Little Tanner, High Street, Northallerton.

For more details visit; homegrownfoodfest.co.uk