BEWDLEY festival organisers have a bridge to cross before October - discovering who took down the town bridge 50 years ago and put it up again, all in four days.

If anyone can supply information or pictures on this incident, it will be good news to Jenny Paddock, festival director and organiser of the forthcoming Bewdley at War event.

Mrs Paddock is trying to put together a picture of how Bewdley was affected bythe Second World War and needs more contributions.

She is anxious to uncover the story of how Bewdley Bridge was dismantled at one stage and reinforced with iron to protect it from damage.

She said the work on the historic 200-year-old Thomas Telford bridge which included taking it to pieces, was completed in just four days.

Personal memories of wartime are what she hopes will bring alive an afternoon when Bewdley people will be invited to contribute to a nostalgic look at the history of the US Army at camp Bewdley aided by Luftwaffe aerial photographs of the town.

She also hopes townspeople will help put together for the event at the Baptist Church on October 9 an account of the role of Ribbesford House.

"I realise there will be people with wonderful memories who can't get out to come and join the session but I hope they will pass on stories to us. Some people may have relatives who will provide reminiscences," she said.

Helping to create a basis for the theme will be Neil and Adrian Turley's book published this year illustrating the days of the town's US army camp.

Former mayor of Bewdley and stalwart supporter of the Royal British Legion Dizzie Moore will be back in town to introduce the session.

Meanwhile, tickets for many of the star attraction in the nine day long festival starting on October 6 have been sold out already.

Spokeswoman Carole Swingler said she had been delighted with the rush for tickets for events in the 14th annual arts festival.

Among the sell-outs are seats for Rick Wakeman's rock and raconteur show and an evening with Rumpole of the Bailey creator Sir John Mortimer.

There are also no tickets left for the show with blues musicians Paul Jones and Dave Kelly nor for the talk by Monica Rees on Bewdley's historical buildings.

Only a few tickets remain for folk group Steeleye Span and Julia Scott's walled garden tour and talk and the Garden Consort opera production.

Tickets were still available however for some star events including the Hollyoaks script to screen show, the Antara String Quartet concert, Gwent Ballet and Ophaboom Theatre Company productions and the Don Maclean comedian act.

Further information is available from Carole Swingler on 01299 403355. Tickets and programmes are on sale at Bewdley Tourist Information Centre and Bewdley Books in Load Street.