HOME-GROWN produce will be the dish of the day at the region's biggest food festival this weekend.

Experts from across the region will meet at the Northumbria Food Festival to sell produce prepared on their farms and businesses.

Among the exhibitors will be Martin and Lesley Bell, who farm at Marwood, near Barnard Castle, County Durham, and will be selling their home-produced beef-products.

They will be joined by Ann Hustwit and Hilary Jenkins, of Bishop Auckland, County Durham, who will be treating visitors to their style of fruit cakes.

Jonathan and Dotty Benson, owners of Lanchester Fruits, County Durham, will be selling home-made apple juice.

Ian and Margaret Grainger, of Meadowfield, County Durham, will be attending the festival with their brand of confectionery, which includes gateaux and cheesecakes.

The festival, which will be held at Baltic Square, Gateshead, on Saturday and Sunday, is expected to be a busy, with hundreds of shoppers visiting more than 30 stalls