CELEBRITIES, athletes and health experts were all present for the official launch of a new health and fitness festival.

Refresh Festival will be held at Wellington Country Park, which is situated between Basingstoke and Reading.

The two-day event, organised by Basingstoke-based business H-Productions aims to inspire and motivate people into a healthier lifestyle.

At the launch event, held at the Holiday Inn, in Regents Park, London, stars who are set to appear at the festival, including world’s fourth strongest woman, Basingstoke’s own Farah Fonseca, and the singing dentist Dr Milad Shadrooh.

Hosting the event will be double Olympic gold medallist Dame Kelly Holmes.

Speaking at the launch Dame Kelly said: “I’m really looking forward to it.

“Everything I have done in my life has been around a healthier lifestyle, but mainly what I do now is to encourage people to look at their own lifestyles and make them feel better about themselves “This festival has ability to put different markets together and to do it with the family setting at its heart is key.”

Dame Kelly Holmes will be running a children’s sports day at the festival and the show arena will showcase activities and demonstrations such as karate and free runners to spark enthusiasm.

The double Olympian said she hopes that the festival will inspire people to take the knowledge they learn from the festival home and keep pushing themselves.

Dame Kelly said: “You hope you are inspiring people with all that information and continue that when they leave the festival.

The event will be held on September 2 and 3 and will feature the likes of best-selling author Clean Eating Alice, influential blogger Danielle Vanier and CBeebies’ Mr Bloom.

For more on the festival, visit refreshfestival.co.uk.