UP to 100 youngsters are set to tread a royal route as part of this year's Bewdley Festival celebrations.

Pupils at the town's four first and middle schools are making crowns which they will wear when they parade from the Guildhall in Load Street, through the museum and into the Queen Elizabeth Jubilee gardens, where their headgear will be judged.

The Queen's Golden Jubilee is the main theme of this year's festival, which runs from October 11-19 and features big names such as Paul Daniels, Dame Cleo Laine and John Dankworth, Julian Lloyd Webber, Tony Benn and Roy Bailey, Germaine Greer and Geordie band Lindisfarne.

Festival artistic director Cynthia Pearson has arranged the parade for Saturday, October 12, and is hoping as many children will take part as possible.

"The first Saturday is when the town comes alive," she said.

Pupils at Bewdley High School are making crown sculptures which will be on display in the school foyer during the festival.

It is one of a number of events taking place in and around the town as well as the main attractions.

Meanwhile, details of the Bewdley Festival fringe programme have been announced.

There are 35 events lined up from October 5-22, and 16 are free. Fringe programmes are available from Bewdley Books in Load Street.

The Shuttle/Times & News will take an in-depth look at the festival fringe next week.