DETERMINATION to properly commemorate the Battle of Worcester is growing in the city.

The newly formed Battle of Worcester Society has announced the appointment of two patrons, a date for its second public meeting and plenty of plans for the year ahead.

Chairman Dilip Sarkar said massive progress is being made on all fronts.

Both Henry Berkeley, of Spetchley Park, near Worcester, and Lady Rosalind Morrison, of Madresfield Court in Malvern have agreed to become the society's first patrons. Spetchley Park is where Parliamentarian Oliver Cromwell stayed during the decisive battle in 1651. Madresfield Court was besieged throughout the war.

Mr Sarkar said: "It's really great news for us.

"We've also been in touch with the Battle of Tewkesbury Society.

"They are ahead of us in that they have been in existence for a number of years now, but hopefully we will be able to help each other," he said.

In the coming months the society will begin looking into a number of projects, from finding out whether there really are mass burial pits on Powick Hams to excavating Fort Royal Hill and puttin up substantial monuments to the people who died in the battle.

The plan for a trail of informative plaques, created by Ken Potts - the artist behind the Elgar statue on Worcester High Street - will also be moving forward.

On Thursday, April 19, the society will hold a meeting at the Worcester College of Technology.

Current members will be giving updates on progress and talking about what is to come.

It will also be an opportunity for local people to find out more.

Secretary Bernard Mills said: "Members of the public are welcome to come along and hear what we've been doing and then, if they want to, they can sign up to help and become society members themselves."

The meeting starts at 7pm and takes place in the college's lecture theatre.