A CELEBRATION of 125 years of Castle Park is the theme for a popular festival as it returns for another year.

The Colchester Food and Drink Festival will mark the park's anniversary when it is held in June, with organisers planning a Cake for Castle Park competition and a bran new beer to mark the occasion.

Festival director Don Quinn said he was delighted to celebrate the history of the area.

He said: "A very quiet and generous Victorian called Richard Catchpool gave enough money to create Castle park.

"We intend to honour this forgotten hero by creating an excellent beer with Colchester Brewery.

"It will be called Catchpool’s Legacy."

The new brew will be served up at the Pikestaff Inn - a real ale and larger bar at the festival which sells the best of British beer alongside continental favourites.

There will also be a Prosecco bar and a new feature for this year will be the cocktail bar called Caulodunum Cocktails which will feature a tipple called Bad Girl Boudicca which has been developed using a secret recipe.

Four categories will be open in the cake baking competition including children aged up to seven, children aged up to 14, adults and professionals.

Entry forms will be available at foodanddrinkfestivalsuk.co.uk with all the baked creations either given to charities or auctioned off so the money can be donated to good causes.

Winners will receive a certificate and vouchers to spend at the festival.

Mr Quinn added: "There will be our celebrity chef kitchen with the top local chef, a legend in his own lifetime, Malcolm Long.

"Lots of local chefs will be performing showing how to make those top dishes."

This year we have some top Mexican food and in the international foods we have food from across the world.

"We have everything from avocado to zucchini and from America to Zimbabwe.

"But of course, as usual, we have our local favourites from local producers.

"Carluccios with their new restaurant in Fenwick are coming with some of their culinary gems and kitchen equipment.

"The atmosphere is always wonderful at this Festival and you can soak it up at your leisure.

"The festival will be alive with music with acoustic, rock, solos, samba and even a hint of jazz."

The festival runs between 10.30am and 5pm on Saturday, June 24 and Sunday, June 25.

Entry is free for children aged up to 14 and £4 for adults.