ORGANISERS are turning up the heat as they get set to stage a giant barbecue festival this weekend.

The third hugely popular Smoke and Fire Festival will be held from Friday to Sunday at Maldon’s Promenade Park.

Visitors can expect scores of stalls selling a mind-boggling range of grilled meats, homemade sauces and marinades before cooling down in the drinks tent.

The event is set to attract a staggering 20,000 food fans.

During the festival, there are set to be more than 40 musical acts across three stages over the weekend, and chilli and hot wing-eating competitions.

A spokesman said: “The food they will be serving is eclectic to say the least – everything from Swedish-Brazilian tapioca pancakes to Vietnamese bánh or how about jerk chicken and crispy barbecued dumplings and finger-licking good gumbo, ribs, award-winning wings, and not forgetting appearances from our fantastic local winemakers and brewers.”

A new feature at this year’s event is the launch party on Friday night which features glam rock headline act Doctor and the Medics – who topped the charts in the Eighties with Spirit in the Sky – and an exclusive barbecue banquet.

The menu for this is put together by John Gower and his team from Quiet Waters Farm in Devon.

The festival even has the international seal of approval from the Kansas City Barbecue Society – something that will turn up the heat on competitors from Europe and further afield taking part in this year’s trials.

There will also be an Artisan tent where naturalist Daniel Hume will present new book The Art Of Fire, described as a “culmination of a life-long pursuit to learn, master and document all the ways of making fire – both ancient and modern”.

Funds from the festival will go towards its chosen charity – the Essex and Herts Air Ambulance.

Tickets are £12 for the launch party and £30 for the banquet on Friday and can only be bought online in advance.

Tickets at the weekend are £5 for adults and free for children.

For more details, visit smokeandfirefestival.com.