CHILDREN were treated to a day of fun in Bewdley to celebrate the launch of the town's annual arts festival.

Youngsters and their families gathered around Bewdley Museum in Load Street on Saturday, the morning after the launch of Bewdley Festival.

Pupils from schools in the town had been asked to make their own masks, which featured in a parade through Bewdley, at about 11am.

Headteacher at St Anne's First School, Geoff Bayley, said children worked on their masks at home and at school.

He said: "The masks looked absolutely super, the children came up with some really creative ideas."

Janet Bickerton, head at Wribbenhall Middle School, added: "The best thing about making the masks was it allowed us to get involved in the community. The children had a great time."

Live folk music, stalls, and town crier Reg Chapman provided the rest of the entertainment at the museum, which was decked with balloons bearing the festival logo.

A clown, a caricaturist and a competition organised by Kidderminster Lions added to the fun, said festival spokeswoman Carole Swingler.

She said: "It was a really nice morning and a chance for children, mums, dads and grandparents to come down into the town and take part in a real community event."

Bewdley Festival began last Friday and will come to a close on Saturday evening with a party at Bewdley High School.

l For our round-up of this week's events at Bewdley Festival, see the Leisure section.