PREPARATIONS for Harwich’s annual sausage festival are well under way.

Organisers Richard Oxborrow and Colin Chessman have begun visiting butchers across the Tendring district to try to drum up entrants for the competition on November 8.

As per tradition, the festival will involve representatives from each competing butcher seeing who can fling an out-ofdate banger the furthest from 11.30am.

Sausages will also be sampled by members of the public at the New Bell, the Alma and the Hanover, with tasters asked to poll which is their favourite banger in the competition.

At last year’s festival, more than 150 people took part in the sausage tasting, with many more present for the banger throwing.

Mr Oxborrow said: “The festival has become a firm favourite with local residents and visitors alike.

“This year, we have a 16 seater minibus bringing CAMRA members from south Essex to join in the fun.

“Our cricket umpire and sausage marshals will be on hand, and I am sure it will be as memorable as previous years.”