The seventh annual Reading Vegan Festival is set to take over the town centre this weekend.

The event, which is free to attend, will be held on September 21, from 11am to 4pm, at The Market House, Market Place, and Broad Street.

The festival will feature 45 stalls, both inside and outside, selling a variety of plant-based street food, vegan cakes, ethical products, and eco-friendly gifts, and charity stands.

A programme of talks and workshops is planned, including campaigners, nutritionists, and pet experts, to a meditation session and a comedy impressionist.

The festival aims to be a family-friendly event, with live music, a 'Kids Chill Zone,' and face painting, and lucky attendees will also receive an array of free tasters.

The festival is uniquely 100 per cent ethical, with only vegan businesses trading. This aligns with Reading Vegan Festival's mission to support vegan businesses and promote the cause for animals, the environment, and human health.

Sarah Zeneli, from Reading Vegan Festival, said: "Reading Vegan Festival is a fantastic event to raise awareness in the community about veganism and to showcase it as the fun, friendly and cruelty-free lifestyle that it is.

"We are so grateful that the festival has become a key event in many people’s calendars, with incredible local support and many travelling in from different towns too.

"We are also very excited to be working with The Market House who will be turning completely vegan for the event again."

The Reading Vegan Festival was founded in 2017, and organised by Berkshire-based event planners and Pride of Reading nominees.