Three town centre butchers will go eye-to-eye for faggot throwing, a sausage drag relay and a black pudding roll in an eye-catching challenge for the Ledbury English Festival.

Representatives from Wallers, Miles and Tony Steel butchers will be up for the challenge as part of the festival's street fayre on Sunday, May 1.

The fayre, in the High Street, will run from noon to 5pm and will include stalls, children's rides and the Festival Dancers.

The festival will kick-off with a poetry and prose reading competition for children, aged from six to nine, on Friday, April 22. It will be at St Katherine's Hall from 6pm to 9.30pm and has been organised by the English Speaking Union.

There will be a St George's Day supper and concert at the Community Hall on Saturday, April 23, at 7pm. Bangers and mash will be served and entertainment includes the Ledbury Waytes, Community Choir, Festival Dancers, a pub quiz and a reading of a special St George poem. Tickets are available from The Talbot and the Tourist Information Centre.

Sir Peter de la Billiere, commander of British forces in the first Gulf War, will give a talk on the history of the Victoria Cross at a luncheon in The Barn House on Sunday, April 24. This event has also been organised by the English Speaking Union and tickets are available on 01531 670288.

There will be a 'booze and clues' event with town guide Elisabeth Galvin at The Talbot on Wednesday, April 27, at 7.30pm. Tickets are available on 01531 632963.

A four-course medieval banquet will be served at the Black Pepper restaurant in the High Street on Thursday, April 28. Further details on 01531 631188.