PREPARATIONS are under way for the 13th annual Eckington Flower Festival and Open Gardens event being held this bank holiday weekend.

The Holy Trinity church and gardens will be opened from 2pm on Saturday until 6pm on Monday and scarecrows made by children will be dotted around the village.

Proud gardeners will be throwing open their gates for people to enjoy the fruits of their labours during the weekend and there will be a craft fayre at the village hall and a beer festival at The Anchor pub. During the weekend other attractions will include a display by the Vintage Tractor and Engine Club, displays of vintage and classic cars and motorbikes, clog dancing, maypole dancing and live music.

The Morning Dew folk duo will also be walking around the area in costume playing traditional music.

Refreshments will be available in many gardens and lunches will be served on Sunday and Monday including barbecues and hot dogs. Flower arranger co-ordinator Joan Green said: "The flower arrangements in the parish church will be a delight to see taking on the theme of Hat's Galore.

"These can be seen each day of the event and also at the special Flower Festival Songs of Praise service on Sunday evening."

Three-day tickets costing £3 for adults and 50p for school children can be bought at the church and all money raised by the event will go towards the general upkeep of the church.

A free bus taking a circular routes around the village will be run throughout the festival by Pershore Volunteer Centre.