WE MAY have experienced a heatwave this summer but the hottest day of the year is still to come.

Oxfordshire Chilli Festival returns to Abingdon on Saturday, along with its infamous chilli-eating challenge.

Things will heat up in the town’s Market Place from 10am, with around 30 growers, traders and fast food sellers setting up stalls laden with fiery products to please even most spice-loving attendees.

To wash away the mouth-numbing offerings there will also be a gin bar with 25 different varieties, as well as live music on the main stage courtesy of Abingdon collective Skittle Alley.

The fourth annual festival is once again organised by West Hanney foodie Dawn Hutcheon.

She said: “I’m always really happy to put it on and the people of Abingdon really seem to love it. People come from all around now as well which is great to see.” She added, despite the popularity of the event, she was not tempted to expand beyond the town square, explaining: “I like the market-style feel. It has a great atmosphere that sets it apart from the bigger festivals and I really want to keep it that way.”

The main event, as always, will be a chilli-eating competition open to all those over 18 who are brave (or foolish) enough to take part for an entry fee of £10, which will go to charity.

It will be hosted, as in previous years, by Martin Bond from The Wiltshire Chilli Farm, which has sponsored the contest.

There is also set to be a return appearance by the UK’s ‘chilli queen’ Shahina Waseem, whose Guinness World Record attempt to win 50 contests in a row will see her take on the Oxfordshire challenge.

Last year the West Londoner stunned crowds when she chilli-chomped her way to a 16th victory despite looking as if she was dreading every bite.

Sunday’s competition, which will start at 3.30pm, is set to be a rematch between Ms Waseem and Abingdon local Anthony Aitken, who bowed out in second place at the 2017 event after struggling to hold down the Naga chilli.

Ms Hutcheon said: “They’ll go head to head again which will be interesting. Anthony says he’s been practicing.”

She added, despite having tasted the world’s hottest pepper - the Carolina reaper - she had never been tempted to take part herself, saying: “It’s far too painful for me.”

As well as stalls from Age UK and the Wildlife Trust, the festival will raise money for Oxfordshire Mind in memory of former chilli competitor Martin Pladdys, who died from a heart attack in 2016. Ms Hutcheon said: “He was always so supportive of the festival that it seemed the right thing to do.”

For more information search Facebook for Oxfordshire Chilli Festival 2018.