AYRSHIRE'S first ever Food Festival is launched on Saturday running until September 9 with a host of events throughout the county.

Organised by Taste Ayrshire, the Food Tourism Marketing Group, and funded by Ayrshire LEADER, there are a host of tastings, lunches, events, markets and tours all featuring Ayrshire produce.

Highlights of the Food Festival include a Glorious Game Day at Braehead Foods Cook School in Kilmarnock, a Food Bloggers Conference at Ayr Racecourse - both being held this Saturday numerous tastings including ice cream, sausages, wine and whisky and a Gala Dinner at Lochgreen on Thursday September 6.

And there are several markets taking place with the Ayrshire Farmers Market in Ayr on Saturday and another Farmers Market at Largs Yacht Haven on September 9 and the Global Market returning to Kilmarnock Town Centre this weekend featuring more than 50 traders from around the world.

There is a Heritage Food Tour of Catrine featuring local traditional foods and a Square Sausage Celebration at Thomson's Square Sausage in Kilmarnock.

Turnberry Hotel hosts a Sunday Brunch with live entertainment and there's a Taste Ayrshire Gourmet Lunch at Glenapp Castle in Ballantrae on Tuesday.

Taste Ayrshire Executive Director Lisa Tennant commented : "We have worked with local producers, retailers, restaurants, schools, hotels and markets the length and breadth of Ayrshire to deliver an astonishingly diverse range of events.

"We have everything from the prestigious Gala Dinner at Lochgreen through to Farmers Markets to special Food Festival menus at various hotels and restaurants to food and wine tastings - we have packed a lot into the 10 days of the Festival but the message is there are superb foodie experiences in Ayrshire every day all the year round." To find out all about the vents at the Ayrshire Food Festival go to www.tasteayrshire.co.uk and download the brochure.