PERSHORE was turned purple as thousands celebrated its famous fruit.

The Pershore Plum Festival attracted over 25,000 people during the scorching weekend.

The festival is thought to have had its record crowd over the weekend finale featuring only stallholders who have agreed to sell something plummy.

Angela Tidmarsh, chairman of the festival said: “We are delighted with how it has gone, the committee have been superb.

“Last year we estimated we had 25,000 over the three days and I would expect it is more this year.

“We try to make sure there are not many duplicates at the festival, that we are offering something you cannot get in the town so that we do not take away from local businesses, most of whom are supportive.

“Monday is always popular for the classic cars, which we have about 1,000 of today (Monday).

“We are trying to appeal to different audiences, we had the race night, and a bike night last week which was successful. We had about 500 bikes.”

The festival, which runs throughout August, celebrated the roaring 20s at its 21st event since its return.

The town becomes a sea of purple and yellow throughout August in homage to the plums which make the town so famous; the Pershore Purple and the Pershore Yellow Egg Plum.

Shop windows are themed to the colours, residents wear purple and buy every type of plum and food flavoured with plums from sausages to soap.

On bank holiday Monday there were nearly 100 stalls and attractions with festival mascots Eggbert and Prunella Plum on hand to entertain visitors as well as musicians and dancers.

There was also a plum fun zone with a fair, banghra and samba workshops, zorbing, river boat trips, dragon boat racing, a World War Two display and an arts trail, plus lots of other family attractions.