Rocket workshops will make sure May Day celebrations in Malvern go with a bang.

They are being run by TV's Dick Strawbridge, as part of the aliens theme of this year's Priory Park event on April 30.

Mr Strawbridge, star of Scrapheap Challenge and Geronimo, will then personally launch the rockets.

He said: "The idea is that the children, and anyone else who wants to enter, have the opportunity to design a rocket. We'll pump them full of water to get the pressure to a maximum, then the cork will pop and the rockets will be launched into the air.

"The rockets can be made out of any kind of pop bottle, from the little ones to the big two-litre kind. They will go a fair distance. I've launched ones that have gone several hundred feet in the air."

Mr Strawbridge, from West Malvern, will also be judging competitions for the best model, best design and best costume, with sub-categories for best space cadet and best alien life-form.

Other attractions include live music from bands including West Malvern's Taxi, Upton's Zen Archeray and Great Malvern's Slack Granny. Short films by local film makers Ralph Titley and Phil Claffy will be shown in a marquee at Priory Park.

Also new this year will be a bouncy castle and the use of the foyer at Malvern Theatres as a venue for a recorder ensemble and acoustic folk band in the afternoon.

Malcolm Victory, who is helping to organise the event, said: "It's very much a local festival and there should be something for everyone to enjoy."

The day begins at 11.30pm, with the traditional parade at 1.30pm. For further details, visit www.malvernfringe.co.uk.