FOUR days of Court Leet events were filmed by a French television company last week to try to lure potential European visitors to the town, despite the foot and mouth crisis.

French camera crews from television company Atlantic TV, which makes programmes for two French television channels, visited the town from Thursday until Sunday.

Events, including fish and flesh tasting and the annual Town Criers' Competition, were captured on film and the result will be a 15-minute documentary.

John Madge, the Court Leet's fish and flesh taster, said: "The ancient traditions of Court Leet are more relevant this year than ever before.

"Our message is that this part of the country is definitely open for business.

"Foot and mouth cannot interrupt more than 700 years of tradition and we are showing potential tourists from Europe that life in Warwickshire goes on as normal."

An ale tasting took place at The Holly Bush pub on Thursday, followed by the Procession of Witness around the four Alcester churches on Friday and the traditional ale, fish and flesh tasting ceremonies on Saturday morning.

Saturday afternoon saw 23 town criers from all over the country visiting Alcester to take part in the annual Heart of England Town Criers' Competition. There was also a procession from the town hall in the afternoon.

Court Leet officers visited Alcester Hospital and Meadow View residential home on Sunday to give Easter gifts to patients and residents.