A £750 grant to support the inaugural staging of Alton FlavourFest has been agreed.

Run by a not-for-profit voluntary committee, headed by chairman Jenny Atherton, the aim will be to stage a festival in the Public Gardens on September 30 “showcasing the finest food and drink businesses in the south of England” alongside family fun activities and live music.

In making her bid for funding at last month’s full meeting of Alton Town Council, Mrs Atherton said that, in her opinion, Alton is “crying out for a food festival”.

“It is a unique opportunity to bring generations together in a safe friendly space,” in an event designed to “increase footfall in the town centre” and “showcase the town to new visitors, improving the economic health of Alton”.

The town council grant will be used to offset the cost of hiring the Public Gardens, the live music and he hiring of a marquee in which to host gourmet tastings and talks from experts.

According to Mrs Atherton, the idea will be to enable visitors to talk direct to producers about their food and where it has come from.

The FlavourFest will run from 11am-5pm.