THE winner of an award recognising a feature of Kidderminster that has enhanced the town during the past half-century will be announced next week.

Contenders for the Kidderminster Civic Society award range from the town's hospital to the Watermill pub and include the Rose Theatre and the Orchard Street old people's development.

The award was conceived as a suitable way to mark the Queen's Golden Jubilee. Among criteria were promotion of high standards in planning and architecture, preservation and education about the area's history. the Watermill pub.

Shuttle/Times and News readers were invited to nominate both specific buildings and concepts - such as the Severn Valley Railway - which enriched Kidderminster's civic scene.

A panel of independent judges has already selected the winner, although the decision is being kept under wraps until it is revealed at the civic society's 10th annual meeting on Monday. the refurbished former Victoria Carpets site in Green Street.

The judges were Lord Sandys, High Steward of Kidderminster; Chris Taylor, wife of Wyre Forest MP, Dr Richard Taylor; and Shuttle/Times and News editor Clive Joyce. resident squirrel in Brinton Park.

Nick Hughes, the civic society's chairman, said: "When you first think of Kidderminster, you would have thought it was difficult to come up with a reasonably large variety of different suggestions as to buildings or other things that would have been worthy of such an award. Kidder-minster's register office.

"But, when we actually saw all the nominations that came in, we were pleasantly surprised at the number and variety of them."

The civic society meeting will be held at St Mary's Chantry, where the society was established 10 years ago. the former Mill Street Infirmary.

Former members of the society who would like to attend the anniversary dinner that takes place after the meeting should contact Mr Hughes at Painters Solicitors, 29 Church Street, or on 01562 822295.

The full awards shortlist

Brinton Park

Green Street redevelopment

Hurcott village

Kidderminster Hospital

Kidderminster Library

Kidderminster Railway Museum

Kidderminster Register Office

Mill Street Infirmary conservation

Orchard Street sheltered development

Rose Theatre

Severn Valley Railway

Severn Valley Railway Station

Tesco super store

The refurbished west side of Church Street

Watermill pub

Wyre Forest district ranger sites.