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WHILE most are gearing up for the General Election, there is just one hotly-contested battle on the minds of catering industry workers in Yeovil.

To launch GO Yeovil! week, teams of four from restaurants, pubs, canteens and eateries across the town will be vying against each other in a town centre race that promises to be full of laughs.

The waiters’ race on Sunday, June 13 will see serving teams, decked out in fancy dress, make their way through hoops, down slides and over inflatable obstacles with a tray of food and drink.

Any spills will result in competitors being ordered back to the starting line.

The team to cross the line first will be crowned champions. An additional prize will be awarded to the team with the best fancy dress, and the team that raises the most sponsorship. All proceeds will go towards charities St Margaret’s Hospice and Yeovil Women’s Hospital.

Two teams who have already signed up for the challenge are Tamburino restaurant in South Western Terrace and the Viceroy restaurant in Middle Street.

In, what is being billed as a clash of the culinary titans, serving staff from both eateries will be going head to head.

Viceroy owner Luthfur Rahman, who is also hoping to hold an outdoor cooking demonstration in Indian cuisine on the day, has high hopes his staff will triumph. He said: “I am sure my team will do very well. Yeovil is growing with a number of different communities.

“An all-day event like this will bring everyone together and provide entertainment for people as well as get them learning about different cultures.”

Tamburino owner Domenico Taravella was bullish about his restaurant’s chances.

He said: “We are going to beat them. They have no chance. It should be a good day.”

The event has been organised by town centre manager Ian Budd and is open to all organisations which serve food, including businesses with their own catering team.

Mr Budd said: “We are hoping for Avon and Somerset Police to enter a team. But even if a business does not have the staff to put a team of four, they can sponsor a team to represent them.

“There is already quite a bit of competition between the restaurants. We want as many people as possible to enter. The event is being sponsored by the town centre partnership, so all proceeds will go to charity.”

The waiters’ race is part of a week-long series of activities celebrating GO Yeovil! which ends on Saturday, June 19, is being arranged to get everyone in the community up and active.

Other events planned are the Ninesprings 9k, 4.5k and 2k fun run, a four-hour Hotsteppers danceathon at Goldenstones leisure centre and a wheelchair mobility challenge.

To find out more about these and the GO Yeovil! Pedometer challenge go to www.goyeovil. co.uk.