MEN and women in period costume caused a stir when they re-enacted an historic trek across America.

More than 100 members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints gathered in Malvern town centre on Saturday to pull 10 hand carts up the Worcestershire Beacon, marking 175 years since the church's foundation.

The event commemorated the arduous journey in the 1840s by the church's early members, who were forced to flee Illinois for Salt Lake City due to persecution.

Elder Alec Mitchell said: "Everyone really enjoyed the day, although many said they were glad they didn't have to do it for real."