ASPIRING young cooks will have an opportunity to brush up on their skills this February at Bridgwater Food Festival.

The workshops are being run by Eat: Festivals, who run the nearby Burnham-on-Sea food and drink festival and aims to educate children on basic kitchen skills and encourage them to be more hands on in the kitchen.

Festival organiser Paul Russell said:“We have been looking for a way to get our younger visitors involved and offer some interactive fun for them during the festival.

"I am really pleased to announce that we will be running free to attend cookery workshops aimed at children between 8 and 14.”

This is the first year the festival will be doing the workshops and organisers have high hopes for the workshops and hope they will inspire kids to be more creative in the kitchen.

Sarah Milner Simonds, Burnham-on-Sea Food Festival Organiser and organiser of the workshops said:“Paul was really clear that he wanted the festival to be able to offer something that was educational, but also fun and for aspiring young cooks.

"We will be running four workshops during the day, in the town hall, that adults can book their children into.

"Two will be designed for 8 to 10 years olds, and two for 11 – 14 year olds.

"Both will be hands-on, edible fun that will inspire them to try this again at home.”

Festival organisers have also offered some places on the workshops to Eastover Primary School, St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Hamp Academy and Westover Green Primary School with a limited number of walk-up places available on the day of the festival.

Bridgwater Food & Drink festival is run by Paul Russell to raise funds for British Flag Carnival Club.

The festival is free to attend and aims to showcase the best of Somerset produce.

The workshops will take place in Bridgwater Town Hall from 10.30am on Saturday February 18.

Parents can book via their school, if listed above or in person on the day.

For more information email Paul Russell at petarussell@btinternet.com or call Sarah Milner Simonds on 07771 665 445