LIKE Mark Twain, stories of the demise of Tenbury's annual mistletoe and holly sales have been greatly exaggerated.

Despite the launch of a Mistletoe Festival for next year, with the crowning of a mistletoe queen, and the success of this year's sales, tales of doubt over its future, particularly in the national press, have persisted since the sale of the auction yard where they take place.

The managing director of Brightwells, which sold the site to Tyrell's Crisps owner William Chase and which runs the sales, dismissed any speculation that the sales could continue, but at its Leominster base, as "absolute nonsense".

Mr Richard Grainger also stressed: "We do not intend moving the sales out of Tenbury Wells and Mr Chase has tried to assure everyone that the site for the mistletoe and holly is safe for at least another 12 months.

"We realise the importance of the market to Tenbury Wells and we are working with the council and interested parties to ensure it stays in the town."

At the time the sale of the auction yard was announced, Mr Chase stated that there would "always be a corner for the December market", his support for which he reiterated in an interview with the Advertiser just last month.

A steering group has already been set up and the first official meeting to push plans forward for next year's festival and sales is due to be held in January.

Group leader, town and district councillor Reg Farmer confirmed: "We can assure everyone that we will be fighting to keep the market in our town, where it belongs.

Protect and promote

"A company is being formulated to protect and promote Tenbury's quality mistletoe and to keep the sales alive with the annual festival.

This year's auctions, held under the national media spotlight, saw a better then ever crop which sold at lower prices than in previous years.

l WATCH out for Tenbury on TV on Friday, at 8pm, when Monty Don's Gardeners World features the mistletoe and holly markets.

This is followed up on Christmas Eve morning when Tenbury's "Mistletoe Man", Stan Yapp, appears on the BBC Breakfast programme to chat about mistletoe and the medical trials involving the plant, that could bring hope for seriously ill people.

The same morning is also due to see him chatting on Radio Four's Today programme, between 6.30 and 9am.