The town will be shown the secrets of what makes the world tick, with boffins and amateur scientists pulling the strings at the Sidmouth Science Festival this October.

The festival kicks off on Tuesday, October 16, with Peter Crowe leading a Caf� Scientifique on ‘Critical thinking’ at Costa Coffee from 3pm.

Another one for the parents on Thursday as Keith Bennett from Otter Brewery and Martin Kerridge from Vinnicombe’s bakery give a talk on the art and science of brewing and baking bread – with tasting.

There will be an opportunity to take a journey in song through the universe of magnitudes from quark to cosmos on Friday when children from Sidmouth Primary School and the Teignmouth and Ivybridge Community Choirs perform “Powers of Ten” by Devon composer David Haines at 7.30pm at the Manor Pavilion Theatre.

The main event is on Saturday, October 20, with Kennaway House as the festival hub. The venue offers serious talks throughout the day in the Cellar Bar, along with an exhibition of art work from Sidmouth schools.

Kennaway House is also the starting point for the Science Trail, a family activity designed by students from Sidmouth College, that takes visitors around the other sites.

The Hopper bus will be taking people up to the Norman Lockyer Observatory open day, while the parish church plays host to the Met Office, where budding meteorologists can try their hand at forecasting the weather.

There are events across the town, ending for the day as Edinburgh Fringe performer Matt Harvey brings his Wondermentalist Cabaret to the hub’s Cellar Bar in the evening.

The festival comes to a close on Sunday, October 21, with a guided stroll through Sidmouth Civic Arboretum, followed by afternoon tea to wind down.

A full programme is available at www.sidmouthsciencefestival.org.