FINAL touches have been made as a popular food festival is set to return next weekend, featuring star-studded celebrity chefs and chart-topping music acts.

Foodies Festival will be back at Hylands Park in Chelmsford from next Friday.

The festival, which began in 2005 and has been dubbed ‘Gastro-Glasto’, is the biggest touring gourmet food festival in the UK.

This year, award-winning chefs and star bakers taking part include MasterChef 2020 champion Thomas Frake and Essex-based MasterChef: The Professionals 2020 champion Alex Webb.

There will also plenty of music, with bands such as Scouting For Girls and legendary boy band Blue.

Lee Ryan and Simon Webbe from Blue said: “We’re excited to be visiting beautiful Chelmsford.

“We’re also looking forward to trying out some incredible food. We’ve had some amazing dishes in the countries we have visited over the years, but to have such a mind-blowing selection from around the world in one place…we can’t wait.”

New features for this year’s event include ‘Ready Steady Chef’, where celebrities from TV’s biggest cooking shows will compete against each other and an opportunity for the youngsters to get creative in the Kids Cookery School, hosted by Foodies SuperChefs.

There will also be support for rising talents on the Musicians Against Homelessness stage, which will feature more than 40 artists across the weekend, whilst supporting national homelessness charity Crisis.

Musicians Against Homelessness founder Emma Rule said: “I’m very pleased to help bring this amazing line-up of artists to Foodies in Chelmsford. I can’t praise them enough for their generous support in these difficult times.

“The last two years have been incredibly hard for charities and the hospitality industry alike. But together we can and will make a difference.”

Foodies Festival director Sue Hitchen added: “We are delighted to be returning to Hylands Park this summer.

“The festival has become a meeting point for friends and family to enjoy a great weekend of delicious food, live music and fun.”

The event runs from June 17-19.

Tickets can be bought at foodiesfestival.com and on 0844 995 1111.