A VISITING Fire Eater was clearly a major event and spectacle at Worcester 250 years ago.

The Worcester Journal for this week of 1753 stated: "Mr Powell, the celebrated Fire Eater, who left this city on Tuesday last, is gone to Gloucester on his way to Bath, Bristol etc.

"During his stay here, vast numbers of persons of quality resorted to see him and were greatly astonished at his performances. It would have been a great pleasure to him to have continued here longer but, being pre-engaged to perform by invitation at the other places, his stay was of necessity short.

"At his departure he expressed the highest sense of the obligation he is under for the great encouragement he met with and for which he humbly begs leave to return most hearty thanks."

The same Journal edition of 250 years ago also brought news of a more depressing nature, presumably warning of the start of a foot and mouth disease epidemic in Worcestershire.

"We are sorry to inform our readers that the Distemper amongst the horned cattle has lately broken out in several parts of this county."