POPULAR annual event the Watercress Festival returns to Alresford next month.

There will be a variety of family attractions and a wide range of watercress treats ranging from traditional soup and cakes to watercress ice cream and watercress beer.

The festival, which takes place on Sunday, May 17, runs from 10am until 4pm, and includes live music and food and craft stalls.

At 10.30am, the cavalcade brings Broad Street to a standstill as the traditional horse and cart carrying the Watercress King and Queen will hand out watercress to festival goers, followed by a procession of Morris dancers, musicians and school children.

The World Watercress Eating Championships will take place in the afternoon There will also be cookery demonstrations by Jack Stein, the executive chef of Rick Stein Restaurants, Andy Mackenzie, Abdul Kayum and acclaimed food writer and broadcaster Rosemary Moon.

Children will have the chance to investigate the 40 or more insect species which live in or by watercress beds by pond dipping in the critter pool, and they can also learn the traditional art of bunching watercress.

The Alresford Watercress Festival is free to attend. There is a charge for parking the car at Alresford or at the Park and Ride at Ropley where festivalgoers can take the Watercress Line steam train.

The Alresford Watercress Festival signals the start of National Watercress Week which runs from May 17-23.

For more information, log on to watercressfestival.org.