A NEW group is to be set up to organise and run the highly successful annual water festival at Upton-upon-Severn.

The event, which has been going for 18 years and brings 20,000 visitors to the riverside town, is taking up too much of the current organisers’ time and resources. It is run by the Upton-upon-Severn Tourism and Trade Association.

At the association’s AGM this month members decided the association should concentrate on encouraging visitors and creating a welcoming environment in the town and, while the festival does attract visitors, it takes up too much of the committee’s time and resources.

Association chairman Peter Webb said: “It was decided that a completely separate committee should be formed to organise and run the water festival and to be solely responsible for the financing of it.

“This would mean the committee of the tourism and trade association could concentrate on promoting the town and its attractions.”

The water festival is held in August each year and includes live bands, falconry displays and fireworks as well as a giant car boot sale.

Rowan Thomas, of Pepperpot Pyrotechnics, who is responsible for the festival’s fireworks display, volunteered to set up the new group. “I know a few people who are interested in getting involved but if anyone is willing to make a contribution who has skills or can help in some way I would like them to contact me,” he said.

“It is a very successful event that has been running for many years. We want to make it bigger and better. It is just a matter of getting the right input from the right people.”

Mr Thomas would like to hear from anyone interested in getting involved in the next month. “We need to get a move on. August is not very far away. I want things moving in the next month.”

Mr Thomas can be contacted by e-mail on rowan.thomas@btinternet.com or by calling 07976 305096.