A RECORD-BREAKING sausage-eating contest, a farmers' market and a beer festival will be top of the menu at this year's Salisbury food and drink festival.

The activities are all part of the 'main course' event, which happens on September 19 in the Market Square and is the highlight of the city's week-long celebration of local produce.

Incorporating everything from sausage tasting to cookery demonstrations and an RNLI food quiz, the food fare will be open from 10am to 8.30pm.

At the farmers' market, visitors will get the chance to sample fresh local food and drink from the Wiltshire Farmers' Market Association.

Every stall is directly involved in the production of the goods on sale.

The producers' market, starting at 10am, will include restaurateurs, Wiltshire Women's Institute members, wine suppliers and confectioners, while the beer festival will feature nine local breweries exhibiting at least two of their beers each.

Cask-ale lovers will be in for a treat, getting the chance to sample some of the best the district has to offer.

Local breweries exhibiting on the day will include Hopback Brewery, from Downton; Downton Brewery; Hidden Brewery, from Wylye; Hampshire Brewery, from Romsey; Hobden's Brewery, from Warminster; Moles Brewery, from Melksham; Ringwood Brewery; Arkells Brewery, from Swindon, and Stonehenge Ales, from Netheravon.

Cookery demonstrations will come from Forking Out caterers, Caf Med and Confident Cooking chefs, to inspire and instruct audiences on local food and good cooking techniques, while wine expert Brian Short will demonstrate how to develop a discerning palate.

Animal lovers will get the chance to meet animals from Cholderton Rare Breeds Farm and there will be a lifesize practice milking cow at the Countryside Education Trust stand.

The food fair is also the launch-pad for the Salisbury food and drink festival record breaker, organised by One Minster Street restaurant owner Rupert Wilcox, when hungry competitors will attempt to devour a mile of sausage.

Bangers and Flash rounds off the 'main course' - when hungry visitors can sample the eagerly awaited Salisbury sausage, followed by a special firework demonstration.

The food festival is organised by Salisbury district council, in conjunction with Wiltshire and Swindon rural regeneration partnership and the Salisbury tourism partnership.

The event starts on September 18 and runs until September 26, with events throughout Salisbury city centre and surrounding villages.

More information is available from the Salisbury district council website, at www.salisbury.gov.uk/leisure/tourism/Food-and-drink, or visit www.salisburyfoodanddrinkfestival.co.uk.