Foodies will be preparing their taste buds for a culinary sensation as the popular Great Missenden Food Festival makes its return next weekend.

Top chefs and television stars including former Great British Bake Off star Paul Jagger and Rachel Green will take to the stage when the festival comes back to Bucks from April 19 to 22.

All four days will be packed with exciting events and a string of new activities for the whole family as the festival returns to its original showground location off the A413 (HP16 9AE).

There will be a chance to get hands on with an Italian cookery class and learn how to make pasta from scratch or learn the secrets to great barbecue cooking in the new food and fire BBQ zone.

Kids of all ages can get their fingers sticky making pizza from scratch in the cookery school or find their inner mad scientist, creating jelly explosions in the food laboratory.

New this year is a cake decorating competition and plant-based workshops and tasting sessions.

Meanwhile, up to 180 exhibitors will be descending on the site selling and sampling some the best of artisan local, regional and internationally acclaimed produce, as well as a small craft and gift area for gifts you can’t find on the high street.

Visitors are set to find a tantalising selection including delicious cheeses, sweet treats, local produce, international cuisine and artisan street food.

There will also be a host of other features including a live music stage, pottery workshops, local producers, world street food, artisan bars and children’s rides and slides.

Top chefs gracing the stage include The Great British Menu’s Stephanie Moon, experts Lisa Marley and Ben Harris and master chocolatier Fiona Sciolti.

The new Broil King Cook-A-long BBQ Experience will also see six sessions each day giving foodie fans expert tuition in how to make the most from your barbecue - including masterclasses on vegan delicacies, molten chocolate puddings with cinnamon and pear sauce, banoffee fudge chocolate trifle and mini chicken tikka kebabs on roti.

There will also be a chance to get up close and personal with the star chefs at the chef’s table - where you can sample a restaurant style tasting dish created by the experts while sat at one of the chefs tables.

Visitors will be able to chat to the chef while they cook, ask them questions and even cook along Event director Hayley Instone said: “We can’t wait for this years’ festival and are delighted to be returning to our usual venue off the A413.

“We have some fantastic new features in store for visitors this Easter Bank Holiday weekend.”

For advance tickets and more information about the four-day event, go to www.greatmissendenfoodfestival.co.uk.

Ticket prices on the day will be adult £7, senior £6, child (6-16) £1, family (two adults and two children) £15.