SPICY food enthusiasts will be getting hot under the collar when a chilli festival gives Abingdon a warm glow for the second year running.

Dawn Massam founded the Oxfordshire Chilli Festival last year to spice up the county’s events calendar with an event celebrating the wide varieties of chillies from around the world.

After being voted the best new chilli festival by the public, the event is hotting up for its second year in the town’s Market Place tomorrow .

The square will be peppered with stalls dedicated to all things chilli – from hot sauces, to food and drink, to chutneys and marmalades, and even chilli candy pops.

Music will echo over the square when a number of bands take to the stage throughout the day, including; Andy Robbins, Beard of Destiny, and Osprey – while crowds will be entertained by the Ashnah Dance belly dancers.

Ms Massam stressed enjoying spicy food was not necessary to enjoy the festival.

She said: “There’s something for everyone there, it’s a family day out. There will be music, entertainment, and the opportunity to watch people in the eating competitions.

“The great thing about all the chilli sauce stalls is you can sample almost everything.”

She added: “I think it took everyone by surprise how successful it was.

The main competition will be a chilli eating contest – hosted by chilli reviewer Darth Naga, aka Tony Ainsworth – where contestants will battle it out to eat the spiciest pepper they can without milk.

Beginning with Jalapeno peppers, contestants will gradually work their way to hotter and spicier chillies on the Scoville scale, until they cannot continue.

The last chilli on the menu will be the Carolina Reaper – the spiciest chilli in the world at around two million on the scale.

However, new for this year is the Hot Wings Challenge, where contestants will try to munch their way through a plate of spiced chicken wings.

The event runs from 10am to 5pm, with the hot wings challenge at 2pm, and chilli eating contest starting at 4pm.