AN ALFRESCO Malton Food Lovers Market took place on Saturday as preparations mount for next month's annual festival.

With over 40 stalls and live music, demonstrations were given by Jake Jones sous-chef at James Martin's Restaurant at Malton's Talbot Hotel.

Joining Jake on stage was his father Andrew Jones, head chef of the Worsley Arms Hotel, Hovingham.

Jake will also be taking part in the Malton Food Lovers Festival on May 24 and 25, which will include a line-up of the county’s top chefs who will be giving live cookery demonstrations and private chef-led cookery classes.

Also appearing is star of BBC’s Great British Menu Stephanie Moon, Michelin-starred chef James Mackenzie, critically acclaimed chef Andrew Pern, BBC MasterChef finalist Sara Danesin Medio, and Malton’s very own Craig Atchinson

Tom Naylor-Leyland, Malton Food Lovers Festival Director, said: “Yorkshire is blessed with some of the most gifted chefs in the country and it’s a huge honour to be welcoming our very own talent to Malton.

"The unrivalled quality of the food and drink being produced in our county is something to recognise and celebrate. The Malton Food Lovers Festival will do just that, bringing together the very best producers and most extraordinary chefs at a festival in Yorkshire’s Food Capital.”

Whilst access to the festival is free, many of the demos, talks and other special events are ticketed.

Tickets are now available from http://maltonyorkshire.co.uk/event-timetable/ with more events being added weekly.