DELICIOUS pies, pints of ale and hearty wenches were the theme of the day at the launch of Moretonhampstead Festival of Food, Drink and the Arts last week.

This year's festival on March 9, sponsored by Helpful Holidays, is focusing on 'History, Pie and Ale' as its theme, which suited the launch at the White Hart Hotel on February 14 down to the ground.

The White Hart has been part of the town community for almost 400 years, traditionally as a traditional old posting house. The town once boasted 32 pubs where cattle drovers drank heartily after selling their animals. Drovers roads still in existence brought hundreds of cattle onto the moor to graze the rich uplands.

The pub's head chef Matthew King has devised his own Drover's Pie to celebrate this heritage, which will be available on the day of the festival. There will be plenty of other attractions besides the pies and ale.

Children and adults alike can learn how to make healthy bread at baking workshops, with Roger Birt of Red Dog Bakery.

The 'Made on Dartmoor' short film competition is new to the 2013 festival.

Potential filmmakers are invited to write, shoot and edit a video no longer than 90 seconds that features food related people, animals or products, all of which either work, are grown or produced within the confines of the Dartmoor National Park.

To enter by March 4 or find out more, visit the festival website http://www.moretonfestival.com">www.moretonfestival.com

Green Hill Arts Centre will host the local open art show, which runs from Wednesday February 13 to the festival day on March 9.

On Friday, March 8, Moretonhampstead Parish Hall will host a debate on food, farming and the local community chaired by BBC Radio Devon presenter John Govier.

Among those debating are the regional diretor of the NFU Melanie Squires and Ed Hamer, an organic farmer from Chagford.

Plus there will be more than 100 stalls, cooking demonstrations and lots of activities for children including face-painting and dedicated entertainment.

The festival will be opened by Michelin starred chef Michael Caines.

Festival entry is free.

For more information visit the website http://www.moretonfestival.com">www.moretonfestival.com