GEOLOGY enthusiasts are expected to flock to Wyre Forest after a visitor information point for Europe's 17th prestigious "geopark" was opened in Bewdley.

The Bewdley Museum based-facility is the first of 10 information points to be opened throughout the Abberley and Malvern Hills Geopark, which was recognised as a global geopark by the United Nations Educational Cultural Organisation in February.

It is Britain's third park and stretches from Bridgnorth to Gloucester.

West Midlands MEP, Philip Bushill-Matthews, officially opened the information point on Monday - the first day of European Geopark Week.

Earlier in the day, the Bewdley town centre geology trail was opened by Katie Foster of the Heritage Lottery Fund and Bewdley mayor Tony Williamson opened the rock and fossil roadshow.

Dr Peter Oliver, director of the Earth Heritage Trust for Herefordshire and Worcestershire which co-ordinated the events and is the lead partner in the geopark, said: "Bewdley is what we call a gateway to the geopark. We're hoping that people will go into the museum and find out more about the landscape and then go off into the park to try and find it."

Parts of Stourport and Bewdley are also included in the geopark.