by Michael Baws

LUDLOW is preparing a big welcome for a record numbers of visitors expected this weekend for three days of food, drink and fun.

Some 19,000 visitors - double the town's population - are expected to come to the 10th Ludlow Marches Food and Drink Festival.

"It's the last place to be if you're watching your waistline," warned the Mayor of Ludlow, Graeme Kidd, who is also a director of the non-profit making company behind the event. "But there can be no excuse for not visiting us. It's the original food festival and still the best."

Also extending a warm welcome is new operations manager Beth Cohen, who has been working behind the scenes since May from a desk in the paper-strewn town council chamber, making sure everything clicks into place. Coun Kidd described her as "the best thing that has happened to us in our 10 years".

For the first time, the festival has a lead sponsor in potato and vegetable chips maker Tyrrell's.

"We wouldn't accept money from a major food or drink producer but Tyrrell's is a business that is very much in touch with its roots," explained Coun Kidd.

Many of the events are in the castle, where two marquees will be open. The Slow Food Marquee offers tastings of perry, honey, cheese, black pudding and cider. The Marches Tourism Marquee will pinpoint towns and traders supplying or serving quality local produce.

The Castle Gardens will be open for the first time to allow visitors to have picnics or chill out.

Another first is Sunday's Season of Mellow Fruitfulness, in which allotments and vegetable gardens in the town will open.

The festival also has a big international feel. Visitors from Ludlow's two twin towns - La Fert-Mac in France and San Pietro in Cariano from Italy - will be there in force. Cooks from a would-be third twin town, Narberth, Pembrokeshire, will also be present.

The Italian connection continues on Sunday with the traditional match at The Linney, between Ludlow RFC and Rugby Valpolicella. The first 100 spectators will get a free glass of wine.

With more than 6,000 visitors expected each day, Ludlow is making a big effort to avoid traffic problems. There will be park-and-ride on the A49 bypass. For 50p a person, it will provide parking and a frequent service into town.

l More festival news: page 6.