THE group organising Worcester’s first-ever canal festival this June has launched a contest to design a logo for the event.

The three-day Worcester Canal Festival will be held from Friday, June 12 and include bands, school choirs, children’s activities, a charity auction and more as part of the celebrations of the 200th anniversary of the waterway.

As part of the preparations for the event, which will be held primarily in Lansdowne Park in Lansdowne Road, the group organising it has invited people in the area to design a logo to promote the festival.

All entries must use a maximum of three colours – plus black – and should include the words Worcester Canal Festival.

Entries will be featured on the Worcester Canal Group website where visitors will have the opportunity to vote on their favourite.

All entries must be emailed as a PDF file to info@worcestershirecanalgroup.org.uk by Sunday, April 26.

The festival is being organised by a collaboration of different groups in the area including the Worcester Canal Group and the Arboretum Residents Association and is expected to one of the city’s most colourful events of the year, with about 50 boats expected to take part throughout the weekend.

It is part of a series of events along the entire length of the canal marking its bicentennial being co-ordinated by the Worcester, Birmingham and Droitwich Canals Society.

The Worcester to Birmingham Canal stretches 29 miles and has 58 locks. Construction began in 1791 and the canal fully opened 24 years later in December 1815.

For more information visit www.worcestercanalgroup.org.uk.