TiHE World’s Original Marmalade Awards and Festival is set to be even bigger in its eighth year – with a record number of jars being sent in for judging.

The event, taking place this weekend at Dalemain Mansion, near Penrith, is expected to attract marmalade lovers from far and wide and has already prompted almost 2,000 people to send in their jams.

Founder Hazel McCosh said the entrants just seem to get better each year.

“We have now done the judging, and both the amateur and artisan marmalades have come in at a very high standard, which is exciting,” she said.

“The number of competitors has gone up again – it just becomes more and more popular and this is absolutely wonderful. We’ve also had huge support from the industry.”

The two-day celebration of the preserve will offer a range of activities including lectures and workshops, crafts, a treasure hunt, books and marmalade making.

And Paddington Bear – the world’s best known marmalde lover – will be there with music from his homeland of Peru and some llamas.

“We didn’t want him to feel sad that he wasn’t in Peru,” said Mrs McCosh.

“It will be a lovely day for children – they can take the llamas for a walk and there will be lots of children’s activities.”

There will be plenty of marmalade related goods, such as Cumberland sausage and marmalade, marmalade mulled wine and other choices to feed even the heartiest appetite, including home-made soups and cakes.

And widely-acclaimed Dan Lepard, known for his baking column in The Guardian newspaper, will host a bread demonstrations. To book a place call The Marmalade Mobile on 079702 74587.

The festival will take place on Saturday and Sunday 10am-4pm, and is a charitable event. All money raised will go towards Hospice at Home (Carlisle and North Lakeland) and Action Medical Research, which have gained more than £90,000 from the previous events.