THIS WEEK IN 1957:

The West Indies' touring team trounced Worcestershire by an innings and in just two days. The tourists scored 290 for 9 and then skittled the home team out for 80 and 133. The only county success story was that of left arm spinner Bob Berry who took six West Indian wickets for 105. Alf Valentine was his 500th wicket in first class cricket.

* Victims living in the flood danger areas of Worcestershire need no longer fear that they may be completely cut off for hours, or even days, before help can reach them. A problem hitherto has been for Red Cross personnel to reach those in distress. Houses may be isolated for days at a time and more often than not in places which cannot be reached by river craft because of the difficulty of overland transport. Now, however, as a result of a successful fund-raising appeal to the public and local councils, a fibre glass dinghy "lifeboat" has been acquired by the Worcestershire Red Cross.

THIS WEEK IN 1967:

A scheme to build a new river bridge and approach roads in Worcester is likely to be given high priority in the national list of schemes for the early 1970s. The bridge plan, estimated to cost about £1 million, is one of a number of local schemes included in the first instalment of Transport Minister Barbara Castle's £1,000 million list of urban road schemes to be proposed for inclusion in the English Principal Roads Programme. The proposed location for the new river bridge at Worcester is just north of the railway viaduct, running from Pitchcroft across to Hylton Road and Henwick Road.

THIS WEEK IN 1977:

Worcester High Street may soon be paved over as a real pedestrians' haven, with bench seats, trees and shrubs. This is the plan of County Surveyor Mr Vivian Jones who wants to see Worcester following the example of other historic towns and cities.

* Worcestershire farmers have been warned to keep a close watch over their cattle after an outbreak of the killer disease anthrax was confirmed on a farm at Pensax near Kidderminster. This latest outbreak brings the total number of cases in the county of Hereford and Worcester to 10.

THIS WEEK IN 1987:Three Worcestershire gardens, which first opened to the public in 1927, will be on show again this summer as the National Gardens' Scheme celebrates its 60th birthday. Spetchley Park near Worcester, Holland House at Cropthorne and Madresfield Court at Malvern will be among 60 gardens open to the public in Worcestershire and Herefordshire between now and October.

* Stringent checks on waste food and scraps from pubs and restaurants are being carried out to prevent another outbreak of swine fever in Worcestershire.

THIS WEEK IN 1992:Ambitious plans to redevelop Worcester's docklands have been unveiled by British Waterways and will be the subject of a forthcoming public meeting. The scheme for Diglis Basin envisages new waterside flats and apartments, restaurants, picnic areas, improved riverside moorings and the option of another cycle/ footbridge across the Severn.

* Arboretum residents who cone off kerbside areas outside their homes to prevent drivers from using the parking spaces are being warned by Worcester police that the practice has no legal authority.