EXCITED children from Pershore were the guests of honour at the unveiling of a public work of art they had helped to create.

The youngsters from Holy Redeemer Roman Catholic Primary School and Abbey Park First School had participated in the transformation of a diseased 80-year-old purple beech tree in the town's Abbey Park into the art project.

They visited the tree, came up with design ideas and made clay models to inspire specialist artist Tom Harvey to carve the final piece, which took him six weeks.

Mr Harvey said: "I particularly enjoyed this commission as it has enabled me to meet a lot of people of different ages in Pershore, all of whom have made me feel at home while I have been working on the tree."