TAVISTOCK?s first-ever food festival this week received a Royal thumbs-up, with wholehearted backing from the Prince of Wales.

Jeffrey Stackhouse, chairman of the festival, announced that the Prince has forwarded ?a sizeable donation? to the festival committee.

Mr Stackhouse said Tavistock Business Association, which is organising the event, was ?thrilled? at the news.

He said: ?Originally we wrote to Prince Charles asking would it be possible for him to come to the festival.

?At that point his secretary wrote back and said regrettably, his diary was full, but they asked us to write to the Duchy of Cornwall and they might be able to help. We heard no more until this cheque turned up.

?We are very honoured by the Prince?s very generous donation. Any event like ours relies on outside financial support in its infancy. It ensures we can create a professionally organised event that will then become an ongoing and annual event.?

A spokesman for the Duchy of Cornwall said: ?The Prince is a passionate supporter of local food initiatives and he is delighted to be able to support this very worthwhile celebration of West Country produce.

?He hopes it will be a great success and will encourage more people to sample local foods and drink.?

With just over four weeks to go until the big weekend, the countdown has begun in earnest for Tavistock Business Association, which is organising the festival.

Mike Hooper, TBA president, said: ?My festival committee are working overtime to ensure everything is in place to guarantee the event runs smoothly.

?I am looking forward to the festival, which will bring a visitor and economic boost to Tavistock.?

More than 65,000 leaflets have been printed and distributed to businesses in and around Tavistock to ensure local awareness of the event on July 31 and August 1.

Tourist Information Centres will also have copies of the leaflet, to make sure tourists in the region are informed of the festival, which is due to be opened by the mayor of Tavistock, Cllr Jenny Metcalf, at 9am on Saturday July 31.

Cllr Metcalf said it was ?absolutely brilliant? that the Prince of Wales had offered to support such an ?exciting and far-sighted initiative?.

She said: ?I think it?s wonderful that he?s shown an interest in it and is prepared to do something for it ? perhaps he could come another year!

?I think the food festival will be marvellous for Tavistock and I hope it will really attract people to come here and see what we have to offer.?

An exciting line-up of top chefs, led by master chef Peter Gorton, of the Horn of Plenty, have been booked to give demonstrations throughout both days of the festival, which centres on the pannier market.

Forty-two regional food producers will be exhibiting, which means there will be a fantastic array of food and drink, from chocolates and cheese to pickles and patés to try and buy.

A shuttle bus will be operating between Tavistock and Hardicott Farm at Milton Abbot during the festival, where free walks around the farm will allow visitors to see a working farm and its response to changing environmental pressures at first hand.