A RELATIVELY unknown fact about one of Worcester's most celebrated sons was uncovered at a city museum in two days of special activities.

About 35 youngsters took part in activities in The Elgar Birthplace Museum, in Lower Broadheath, across two days during half term.

The activities were part of the Love Worcester Heritage Festival and were held on February 19 and 20.

Children enjoyed trails, dusting for finger prints, made decoders and secret messages with invisible ink as well as musical morse code.

Rachel Whyle, senior museum assistant said the turnout was fantastic.

"They all seemed to have a good time and were enthusiastic especially with the finger print testing," she said. "The most popular was the finger prints and musical morse code, we had percussion instruments out for the children to play with."

Miss Whyle said as well as being a great composer, Elgar also had a love of codes which he included in some of his music.

"What many people don't realise is he loved codes and puzzles, that's where the whole enigma variations comes in," she said. "He wrote 14 different pieces of music all based on his friends and family.

"There's supposed to be a code which is still trying to be decrypted today. He labelled each page of music with initials. There's a lot about his life people don't realise."