BBC television presenter Paul Martin has helped to launch the 4th Melksham Food and River Festival.

He joined the town’s mayor, Cllr Adrienne Westbrook, and sponsors at the official launch at the Leekes department store in Melksham.

There are two new sponsors for the two-day festival on Saturday and Sunday, August 31 and September 1 in the King George V playing field.

They are The Asda Foundation and Melksham Rotary Club.

Mr Martin said: “I think it is a great event for Melksham and a river festival is quite unique.”

Announcing the sponsors, Cllr Westbrook said: “The amount of sponsorship we have gained so far this year is amazing and we already have 70 bookings from stallholders.”

The organiser s have gained £6,800 in sponsorship towards the £12,500 cost of staging the festival.

Other sponsors are Melksham Town Council, Leekes, Leigh Paul Swindon (LPS), Cooper Tires and Foxhangers.

Being held for the fourth time, the festival is a partnership between Melksham Food & Drink Festival and the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust (Melksham, Chippenham & Calne Branch).

The festival seeks to provide a platform for local food and drink producers, community groups, local entrepreneurs and start-up businesses.

Last year, more than 5,000 people attended the festival.