HATHERLEIGH will go chilli-con-carne crazy over the late May bank holiday weekend, for the town's first-ever Chilli Festival.

The town square will play host to the festival, which is inviting all local businesses, organisations and individuals to make a vat of chilli con carne with accompanying rice, and compete against each other to see who makes the best chilli.

The event will have a party atmosphere, with a DJ and live band providing music, and the square dressed with tables and chairs.

As well as the main Chilli Con Carne Challenge, those with iron stomachs can take on two other chilli-themed competitions during the evening.

The Chilli Chow Down Championship will see who can eat the hottest chillies, and the H'eat It Up Challenge will see who can eat the most chillies in one minute.

Event organiser John Morris saw the festival as a great chance for businesses to engage with people from the town.

He said: 'It should be a great evening where individuals and families can socialise and have lots of wholesome good old fashioned fun. It's not all about the food.

'We like to think it's more about the experience — there's the old adage that people taste food with the eyes first. So we would encourage competing establishments to sell themselves and think about doing everything they possible can to sway the public vote their way.

'They can add their own extras, come up with a theme, dress their stall and their servers, and bribe the public with whatever they've got. Anything goes!

'It will be a fantastic, fun filled evening for everybody.

'It will also be a great opportunity for local organisations and business to do a little PR for their organisations.

'It's a chance to spread their message and bring them closer to their local community and future potential clients.'

The event has been organised to raise funds for the Hatherleigh Festival.

The annual event brings music, art, workshops and more to the town during the summer.

The festival committee is already busy planning original and creative events to entertain and excite those attending, and is looking to find funds to help the 2013 be the best yet.

The festival takes place in Hatherleigh town square from 5pm until late on Saturday May 25.

Plates cost £5 per person to try as many of the competing chilli con carne dishes as you like. Children each for free. All money raised will be used to support Hatherleigh Festival.

For information on how to enter any of the competitions and have a stand at the festival, call John Morris on 07940 400970 or e-mail [email protected]">[email protected]