A FEAST of strawberries and cream was being prepared yesterday to feed visitors to Darlington's first dedicated food festival.

The event, which will be held in the Market Square, from 11am to 3pm on Friday, will feature locally-produced specialist and organic foods.

There will also be live music, a tea dance, free cream teas and strawberries, and a variety of craft and furniture stalls.

A Darlington Borough Council spokesman said: "It is the first time we have done it, so we are hoping it will be a real success.

"There will be everything from game and fruit pies to jams, preserves, pickles and cakes and biscuits - all from the local market community."