PREPARATIONS are well underway for a popular three-day celebration of local produce taking place next month in the Yorkshire Dales.

Thousands of people from across the region are expected to attend the 2008 Dales Festival of Food and Drink, being held in Leyburn, on May 3, 4 and 5.

More than 80 local and regional suppliers will display their wares in the food hall marquee.

Everything from organic bread, sweets, preserves and ice cream to cheeses, pies and local game will be on offer.

Raconteur Gervase Phinn, author and fishing expert John Aston and Lesley Wild, a director of Bettys Café Tea Rooms, will entertain the crowds with talks in the Richard Whiteley Pavilion.

There will also be cooking demonstrations from local chefs taking place throughout the three days.

A theme of sustaining the environment will run throughout this year's festival.

Organisers say the starting point will be the food and drink stall holders, who are mostly based within 20 miles of the venue, meaning their produce has travelled fewer food miles' than most supermarket-bought goods.

A number of the producers are also organic.

Gerald Hodgson, committee member responsible for the Farming for Food area, believes the environmental theme will be evident elsewhere on the site.

He said: "The dry stone walling demonstration by the Otley and Dales Dry Stone Walling Association will illustrate how this vital part of the Dales scenery is being maintained.

"The Dales Hay Meadow project continues that theme and, in a more modern idiom, biofuel production will be featured.

"The Royal Horticultural Society's vegetable growing display is also very relevant and the importance of honey bees in crop pollination will be illustrated in the display and talks by Richmond and District Beekeepers Association."

Other attractions will include live jazz and brass band music, food stalls and farming demonstrations.

The event also incorporates the Yorkshire Dales Real Ale Festival, organised by Harrogate's Daleside Brewery.

Younger visitors can enjoy traditional fairground rides and a climbing wall.

Festival tickets cost £6 per day or £9 for the three days.

Admission for under-16s is free if they are accompanied by and adult or £3 if they are unaccompanied.

Advance three-day tickets are available from Leyburn Tourist Information Centre on 01969-623069.

Parking is free.

Visit www.dalesfestivaloffood.org for more details on the festival.