TELEVISION chefs John Torode and Phil Vickery are set to impress visitors at a new food festival on the coast this summer.

Seaham Food Festival will bring fresh fare, fine flavours and exciting culinary experiences to the town on the weekend of June 8 and 9.

Food fans can look forward to more than 100 traders and producers selling tasty treats from all over the world at the free Durham County Council event.

There will also be mouth-watering demonstrations at the festival’s open-air cookery theatre, which is also free and located on Seaham Green.

It is the first time Seaham has hosted an event of this scale and it is expected it will bring similar economic benefits to those delivered by Bishop Auckland Food Festival, which attracted 29,000 people to the town recently.

As an acclaimed chef and co-presenter of MasterChef and John and Lisa’s Weekend Kitchen, John Torode will share some of his top tips and favourite recipes at the cookery theatre on the Saturday.

He said: “I am really excited to be heading up to the North-East coast for Seaham Food Festival.

“It’s been a long time since I visited the area and I can’t wait to see what the shores of Seaham have to offer. Come and say ‘hello’, I look forward to meeting the locals.”

Phil Vickery, who is instantly recognisable from a range of television shows including This Morning and Ready Steady Cook, will also be sharing some delicious recipes at the cookery theatre on the Sunday.

His latest prime time television show, Save Money: Good Diet, begins on ITV in June, while a book of the same title comes out on May 30 and features 100 new recipes.

He was a big hit when he appeared at Bishop Auckland Food Festival last year and his healthy, flavoursome food is perfect for summer dining.

Joining the pair at the event will be Rachel Green, an award-winning chef, local food campaigner, author and television presenter, and seafood specialists The Crabstock Boys.

There will also be live music and children’s activities, including healthy baking workshops with Little Dots Dishes.

Entry to the festival and open-air cookery theatre is free. There is a small charge for workshops, and advanced booking is recommended, with more details to be announced soon.