Bewdley's mayor, Bill Mason, accompanied by the mayoress, his daughter, opened the arts and crafts exhibition.

County chairman Elizabeth Johnson spoke of the contrast in the crafts at the start of WI - ie thatching, cobbling and soldering - to the array of crafts on display.

The seven WIs in the group - Cookley, Franche, Foley Park, Habberley, Kinver, Trimpley and Wolverley - were all represented at the exhibition, with crafts varying from cross-stitch, decoupage, knitting, patchwork and smocking, to sugar craft and painting, and many more, prompting Liz Davis, group secretary, to liken it to Aladdin's cave.