ROYAL wedding fever gripped Bromsgrove and district. Many decorated their homes and streets with red, white and blue bunting and many communities staged parties and fancy dress competitions. Later in the day the groom, Prince Charles, lit the first in a national chain of beacons - one of which was ignited by Lord Cobham on Hollies Hill.

PICK your own fruit and vegetables was in full swing at many farms in the district.Typically Ashborough's in Burcot Lane had strawberries at 20p per lb and blackcurrents at 30p a lb and broad beans 10p a lb.

RESIDENTS in the Bromsgrove village of Stoke Heath were upset at the prospect of having 110 acres of land on their doorsteps given over to housing and industrial use as part of the district council's local plan. They complained that Dodford and some other villages appeared to have escaped the town planners' attention.

THE forthcoming winter months looked set to be even gloomier than usual. To save cash Worcestershire County Council had decided not to repair any faulty street lights except those on main roads and motorways. The authority was responsible for 42,000 lamps, with its records showing 3,000 of which needed annual repairs.