A SCALED-DOWN design for an outdoor stage to replace a Bewdley bandstand has also been announced.

Work on a more modest sized pergola-style development has begun at Jubilee Gardens, which is accessed from Severnside South.

The project was originally envisaged by Bewdley Civic Society as a "green theatre" made of wood and greenery to replace the bandstand base, which has been demolished to make way for the flood barrier in Severnside South.

This was scrapped in favour of a simpler scheme to avoid delays in getting planning permission from Wyre Forest District Council, said civic society chairman Ken Hobson.

He said: "I think to get it ready for this summer, it would have been not possible and so we can take our time now and apply eventually for the green theatre."

He described the new scheme as a "garden feature" and thanked the Environment Agency for getting the scheme off the ground.

The district council has also made a contribution to the scheme.