THE York Food and Drink Festival has started with local produce celebrating French flavour.

The ten-day festival will see stalls and demonstrations throughout Parliament Street, with produce from around the region on offer from breads to cheeses and fruits to chocolates.

Demonstrators from local restaurants will be held at the demo tent stage in St Sampson’s Square to cook up French dishes for festival audiences.

Stephanie Moon, from Rudding Park, will be performing a culinary ‘Tour of Yorkshire’ cooking dishes using produce found along the route of the Tour De France.

Wine expert Karen Hardwick will give a wine ‘Tour De France’ alongside a cookery demonstration from festival director Michael Hjort.

Other demonstrations will include Masterchef finalist Sara Denison Medio, Adam Smith from The Devonshire Arms and Dr Annie Gray, while restaurants from around York will offer special menus and discounts throughout the festival, and live music will be performed in Parliament Street throughout the event.

For the full line-up or to find out more about the festival, go to yorkfoodfestival.com