A Yorkshire Day food competition to find some of the true tastes of the county will take place in Ilkley.

In honour of the day, Bradford Council is searching for the finest examples of chutney and parkin to do the county proud.

The winning dishes will be picked out on the day, Sunday, August 1, at King’s Hall and Winter Garden as the first big event of the Ilkley Summer Festival.

Coun the Reverend Paul Flowers, the council’s executive member for culture, tourism and sport, said: “Yorkshire Day is an important chance to mark everything that is great about our county and hopefully the culinary talent in Ilkley will come out in force to show that includes our food.”

Last year’s chutney competition was won by John Hawkesworth, husband of festival director Councillor Anne Hawkesworth.

She is challenging people to beat him this time around “The message is, for goodness sake, come and knock him off his perch, because I’ve never heard the last of it,” she said.

Other events on Yorkshire Day in Ilkley, include the annual declaration by the town crier and a free concert by Clifton and Lightcliffe Brass Band, and there is a Palm Court Tea in Winter Garden and every Sunday during the festival.

There will also be ‘A Reet Grand Sing’ with the Moornotes Community Choir.

Anyone interested in singing is encouraged to and listen to the choir sing a handful of songs before joining the choir for a rehearsal and public performance an hour later.

This year’s songs will be Scarborough Fair, Viva la Musica, Song of Peace, a new Yorkshire Day anthem, written by Shirley Britton, and On Ilka Moor Baht ‘At. To find out more, visit the choir’s website at moornotes.org.uk.

A hat-throwing competition is also planned. Application forms and details about the chutney and parkin competition are available from the Visitor Information Centre, on Station Road, Ilkley. Applications need to be in by noon on Saturday, July 31, at the information centre.

Arguably the highlight of this year’s festival will be the appearance of veteran comedian Ken Dodd, 82, and his Happiness Show at the King’s Hall on Wednesday, August 4.