TV food expert Loyd Grossman has expressed his support for the Dales Festival of Food and Drink.

In a message of support for the Leyburn-based event on the May Day bank holiday weekend, Mr Grossman speaks of the importance of local produce.

"It's now widely recognised that there has been a food revolution in Great Britain", he said.

"Sales of cookbooks, the wide number and range of television food programmes, a great increase in eating out all testify to our new-found (really over the last 30 years) national enthusiasm for food.

"But celebrity chefs and glossy restaurants notwithstanding, what underpins the British food revolution is a deep and enduring tradition of the production of high quality distinctively local foodstuffs.

"Just as the Dales exemplify the beauty and character of rural England so does the variety and quality of food produced there."

Mr Grossman said it was now time to stand up and shout about the absolute excellence of locally-produced food.

"High quality, high value food production can help to bolster the battered rural economy and the creativity and dedication of farmers, bakers, cheesemakers and other food craftspeople can bring pleasure and pride to many.

"I am thrilled that the festival was such a success last year and know that it will attract more people and more attention this year and in the future."

* Special bus services are being organised not only throughout the Dales Festival of Food and Drink over the May Bank holiday but also in the days before and afterwards so that local residents can still do their regular shopping in Leyburn.

"Leyburn will be open" declared the organisers of the festival and they have worked hard to provide the extra services.

"There is ample opportunity for parking and there is going to be a frequent bus service into the town centre," said Coun Margaret Knight.

For local residents free park and ride services begin on Wednesday, April 30, when the marquees are being erected and the central market place is closed.

On Wednesday, Thursday and on the Tuesday after the festival, this local park and ride service will run from the auction mart with a free minibus service from 9am until 5pm. This will enable people to travel into town to shop and then leave their shopping at Campbells and Quality Fare while they fetch their car for loading.

The organisers especially want people to continue to support Leyburn's Friday market. So that day the park and ride service will be based at the rugby club in Wensley Road with the minibus running from 8am to 5pm. During the festival the park and ride service will be based in a large field on the A684 on the east side of the town. This car park will again be supervised by members of the local Royal British Legion.

Free buses will run every few minutes from 9.30 until 5.30, during the bank holiday weekend.

From Thursday a small section of the district council's car park will be closed as two marquees are being erected there.

Local residents will be able to park free of charge in the open section of that car park and also at the Auction Mart, or they can use the park and ride service from near Tennants.