THOUSANDS gathered in the plum capital of the world for Pershore Plum Festival today.

Tonnes of Pershore plums were snapped up by the crowds of visitors, as they walked through the town’s sunny streets.

Motor-heads also gathered outside Pershore Abbey to enjoy a classic car show, which is a regular feature of the festival.

There were also food stalls, a parade and lots of activities for the family.

Bob Gillmor, mayor of Pershore, said: “Pershore is the plum capital of the universe. Today the gods are blessing us.

“We expect 20,000 to attend and welcome all visitors to the town, especially the guests from our German twin town Bad Neustadt.”

Some 32 visitors from the German town came to Pershore for the festival.

A group from Pershore will visit Bad Neustadt next year to continue the traditional alternate yearly visits.

Karl Breitenbucher, deputy mayor of Bad Neustadt, said: “I first came to Pershore in 1999 but visitor exchanges have happened since 1979.

“This is a good way for us to connect and our friends here are just the same as before.

“I hope Brexit is not the end, we will still come to Pershore. We live in Europe and I’m European.”

Paul Johnson, plum charmer and local solicitor, said: “The plum charmer plays music in the orchard to ensure a good harvest.

“It works and makes the plums much tastier. It brings out the purple blush in the plums.

“We have reintroduced the tradition of Wassailing [charming the plums with music] in a slightly humorous way.”

Ron Dadge, owner of a fruit and vegetable stall in the town, said: “Sales have been fantastic, people are spending lots of money.

“I’ve been doing this for five years and this year is absolutely amazing, everybody is out and it’s a beautiful day.”

Town crier Robert Speight says the festival has only got bigger and better in the eight years he has attended.

Maggie Andrews, co-author of How the Pershore Plum Won the Great War, was also at the festival celebrating the town’s heritage.

“During the war, both sides were trying to starve each other out. Plums fed the troops and people in the town,” she said.

“The Pershore plum was discussed in parliament in 1918 as there were concerns about supplies. Many argue Germany capitulated because it was starved.

“The fruits were picked by boy scouts, students, German prisoners and even refugees.

“It was a war of attrition and food became a huge weapon. We would have lost the war without the food and taking care of supplies.”

The classic car show was also a spectacular success with enthusiasts parking up outside the abbey and inspecting the other vehicles.

Mike Youe, a Bromsgrove owner of a 1946 MG TC owner, said: “I like Pershore, there’s so much going on and there’s a fantastic comradery.

“I’m here for my second year, the first time I visited I was so impressed I had to come back.

“Funnily enough the guy next to me is my friend who just happened to turn up and park next to me.”

Les Deykin, Mr Youe’s friend and owner of a 1954 MG TF, said: “We’ve been friends for five years, we kept bumping into each other at car shows.

“It’s a free and fabulous site, we couldn’t ask for anything better. The show is an asset to everybody.”

The plum festival had 14,000 visitors two years ago, although attendee numbers dropped last year due to the weather.