TOY rabbit and porcelain sheep will fill the shoes of real animals at a Worcester school fete after organisers lost their battle against the effects of foot-and-mouth.

Pony rides and a pets corner were planned for this year's Christopher Whitehead High School community fete on Bank Holiday Monday, May 7.

But the Ministry for Agriculture and the NFU called for the activities to be scrapped, prompting a radical re-think.

Organiser Sue Meredith of the school's Friends' Association said they now had the backing of both groups to turn part of the site into a foot-and-mouth awareness area.

"We thought we could set up somewhere to explain the crisis as the effect on the community has been devastating," she said.

"We have had to abandon a number of plans for our fete but we are working to get round it."

Old carpet

Originally, children were invited to bring their pets along to the event, due to be opened by Worcester Carnival Queen and former Christopher Whitehead pupil Kirsty Evans.

A pony lane has also had to be abandoned.

No dogs will be allowed on the Malvern Road site and an appeal is being made for old carpets which can be placed across entrances and doused with disinfectant.

Guess the name and weight competitions will now star a toy rabbit and a porcelain sheep, but a bird of prey exhibition is still due to go ahead.

Flamenco and Western dancing, three-wheeler Morgan rides and demonstrations by the Territorial Army Floodbusters are highlights that have also been unaffected.