ORGANISERS of Ledbury English Festival are appealing for helpers to ensure its continued success.

A lack of volunteers meant this year's St George's Day parade was cut back, as was the grand opening and combined launch with Ledbury in Bloom.

Festival organiser Andy Ward said: "There weren't enough of us to organise and safely marshal a big parade on open roads. We must apologise to all of you who were expecting one."

About 1,000 people enjoyed Sunday's High Street spectacular, which began with a presentation of a Fairtrade Charter to mayor Jayne Roberts. This was followed by a junior town crier competition and a battle between the town's butchers in a string of sausage relay, black pudding rolling, faggot tossing and a scotch egg and spoon race.

Mr Ward said: "New traditions just happen and I'm sure that in 50 years' time faggots will still be tossed in Ledbury thanks to the English Festival, the butchers and the wonderful support and encouragement the large crowd gave the teams."

Other events during the week included a poetry and prose reading competition for children, literary lunch with General Sir Peter de la Billiere, morris dancing outside the Market House, a bangers and mash supper concert, a gig by tribute band The Shedows and concert by Ledbury Choral Society and Volante Strings.