PEOPLE can get their taste buds in training for the festive season at a food and drink festival in Taunton on Saturday (November 30).

eat:Christmas will feature farmers' market favourites such as cheese, ales and pies, alongside artisan chocolates, gin and charcuterie.

There will be a range of food and drink producers, street food and entertainment at the festival along Hammet Street and Church Square from 10am to 4pm.

The event is in partnership with the St Mary Magdalene Church advent fair and open tower day.

Hot food providers will be offering a low-priced option and there will be lots of vegan, gluten free and other dietary options available. There will be music, choirs and festive characters.

The festival organisers have added some new elements alongside the local producers.

They have distributed thousands of flyers to local schools, which you can exchange for a free prize ticket in a draw to win a luxury hamper delivered in time for Christmas.

You will also be able to snap yourself in a lifesize Christmas card. The team will have some props on hand and you can create your unique card using your phone.

They are also on the lookout for the best Christmas jumper - all you have to do is snap yourself in your jumper at the festival and post it on Twitter, Instagram or the event pages with the hashtag #EATMYJUMPER to be in with a chance of winning an eat:Festivals prize.

Festive food festivals are also being held in Burnham-on-Sea, Portishead and Weston-super-Mare.

Bev Milner Simonds, one of the organisers, said: "We love bringing the town centre to life for our one-day events and we wanted to spread that cheer into the winter months with these new festivals.

"Christmas is traditionally a time for feasting and we hope that many visitors with use the festivals as an opportunity to stock up on local produce to share with friends and family.

"We are also working with the local Foodbank to provide a drop-off point for donations in Church Square for those in the local community who aren’t in a position, for whatever reason, to have enough food on the table at this time of year."