FOUR carnival stalwarts who have clocked up 65 years service between them are leaving to work with another town's committee.

The president, treasurer and secretary of Stourport Carnival Committee have left their former positions to take up new roles with their Bewdley counterparts.

Felix Smith, 77, Muriel Smith, 67, David Cooper-Smith, 40, and Marie Hardwick have resigned from their positions as president, treasurer, secretary and committee member respectively.

The committee has been running for three years, but all are previous members of the old Stourport Carnival Society and have totted up 65 years service between them.

Mrs Smith, who has served the carnival since 1979, said she would take fond Stourport memories with her when she, husband Felix and Mrs Hardwick take up their roles in organising the field for this year's Bewdley Carnival on Saturday, June 9.

Her son Mr Cooper-Smith is not taking up a new carnival duty.

She said: "We have all had some wonderful times and enjoyed a lot of fun in Stourport.

"However, when you do something voluntarily and it becomes a chore it is time to stop, and in this case, look for a new challenge.

"We wish everyone well on the Stourport committee and we will all be back as spectators for many Stourport carnivals to come."

Bewdley Carnival Committee chairman Doreen Davies welcomed the trio and said they were already proving great assets since their arrival.

"We needed a helping hand and could still do with more members, but it is super news that the three are so keen to help organise the field this year", she said.

Stourport Carnival Committee publicity officer Pete Roberts said the vacancies would be filled at the committee's annual meeting in February or March.

He added committee members should now meet on the second Monday of each month at Stourport's Swan Hotel, High Street, at 7.30pm. Field enquiries for Bewdley Carnival should be addressed to Mrs Smith on 01299 877667.