WORCESTER racecourse is gearing up for its season of summer national hunt racing.

The track is being watered to make the going medium to firm for when the season starts at the beginning of next month.

Councillor Derek Prodger, who represents the city council as a director of Worcester Racecourse Ltd, was out walking part of the course yesterday, watching the preparations.

"Worcester is the home of summer national hunt racing," he said.

"This is because we can water it out of the Severn, which we are doing at the moment, and will do up until the first day of racing in May."

There will be 17 race meetings held at the Pitchcroft course between May and November.

"In October and November a lot of the national hunt horses are starting to train for the new season and we will pick up a lot of those early runners in Worcester," said Coun Prodger.