THOUSANDS of people braved the wet weather and flocked to Bewdley to enjoy street entertainment, exhibitions and fireworks during the Rediscover Bewdley weekend festivities.

The event, organised to celebrate the completion of the town's flood defence works, was officially opened by Mayor, Liz Davies, and the town was decorated with artwork and poetry produced by pupils from Bewdley schools.

There was music from bands including The Ridge Top Mountain Boys and Shark Attack, as well as entertainment from Morris dancers and historical re-enactors.

Bewdley Museum celebrated its reopening for the season and art lovers flocked to the Bewdley Gateway Exhibition.

Members of the Banks's Bewdley Darts League raised money for County Air Ambulance and Prostate Cancer Research by pulling a barrel from Bliss Gate to Wribbenhall.

On Saturday evening, hundreds of illuminated sculptures with an aquatic theme lit up the quayside and were followed by a firework display.

Traders relocated to the riverside for the monthly farmers' market on Sunday and visitors went to Severn Valley Railway to look behind the scenes.

John Iles, chairman of Opportunity Bewdley, which organised the event, said: "This weekend was all about celebrating the unique assets of Bewdley, which we did very successfully. All our hopes and aspirations came together on the day.

"We hope that everyone enjoyed it as much as we did and encourage people to tell their