A CELEBRATION of local food and drink, as part of the Ledbury Poetry Festival, has won the backing of town councillors.

Member of the town's finance and general purposes committee met last week and voted to provide a grant of £400 to the Ledbury Celebration, out of the council's October Fayre fund.

The plan is for Ledbury Celebration to put 30 food producers retailers into the High Street, on Sunday, July 12, during the Ledbury Poetry Festival.

Based on last year's figures, this should bring about 1000 people to the town centre on the day.

The food festival has been running for several years, but it is the first time the town council has been asked for funding.

Event spokesman, David McCauley of Lambourne Close, said: "The food festival has been a popular part of the Poetry Festival for some years.

"Last year, the Ledbury Food Group took over the food element, in an expanded event."