FED-UP with the deprivations of the state a mutinous group of Bretforton residents has decided to break away and held the inaugural Bretforton Independence Day yesterday.

Inspired by the 1950s Ealing comedy Passport to Pimlico, the self-appointed Bretforton Independence Committee - who base themselves at the well-known hive of rebellion that is the Fleece Inn - decided to devote their own public holiday to local legend Spot Loggins.

Spot Loggins was reputedly a sheep drover, possibly living in the 17th century, whose sex has never been determined, who drowned in a cattle spring.

Legend has it that anyone who runs three times around the well blindfold will magically lose any items they are carrying.

The day was marked by a 2pm breakfast and a walk around the village 'stopping at one or two local cider hostelries' according to Fleece landlord Nigel Smith.

Committee members attempted to divine the exact location of a well central to the Spot Loggins myth as well as sampling Lambswool, a mixture of spiced ale and Bretforton apples reputed to have been drunk, and possibly invented by the mysterious Loggins.

Village poet Deborah May Jones recited a verse written in Loggins' honour and the evening was crowned by storytelling and singing by Robin Sharples and Beth Harris at the Fleece, at The Cross.

"Our initial aim was to drive for a Bank Holiday as a statement of our intent," said Mr Smith, a member of the Bretforton Independence Committee.

"At the moment we are more of a working group because we have not held elections yet, but we intend to come up with a flag for Bretforton which includes the village's silver band - the only one left in Worcestershire - and asparagus.

The children at Bretforton First School have come up with some initial designs which have been passed to the parish council."