OVER the next few weeks, at the opposite end of Worcester's Angel Place to the public conveniences, you are quite likely to be approached by two men.

They will not ask you to accompany them anywhere at all, but merely to buy a lottery ticket for a very flash car.

In doing so, and for £1, you will be helping the Rotary Club of Worcester Severn in one of the biggest fund-raising appeals in its 21-year history.

Over 12 months, the aim is to reach around £14,000, the bulk of which will be presented to Worcestershire Association of Carers, the county branch of the national organisation supporting carers throughout the country.

Worcester Severn is tackling the task on two fronts.

First there is the lottery for a brand spanking new yellow Mazda MX5 sports car, supplied by Edwards Mazda of Kempsey, and second, there is something completely different.

For the rotarians are turning concert promoters.

On the evening of Saturday, May 17, they are staging Music and Mirth at The Forum Theatre, Malvern.

Billed as "an evening of music from the Broadway shows with a gentle "splash of comedy", it will be headlined by Midland entertainer Don Maclean with support from Barry North and the Wusters and music from the West Midlands Light Orchestra, which will be playing tunes from the shows.

Compering the evening will be former Tiswas star and ATV presenter Peter Tomlinson, now boss of Saga Radio.

"To produce a first class variety show is quite a daunting task for us," said rotarian Brian Humphreys, "and as our aim is to fill the 840-seat Forum Theatre we have decided to keep ticket prices down to £12.50.

"There will also be a glossy heavyweight souvenir programme on sale for £3."

The show is costing around £6,000 to put on, the bulk of which it is hoped will be covered by sponsorship.

Although the main beneficiary of the rotarians efforts, Worcestershire Association of Carers remains a relatively low profile charity.

Its members are of all ages and come from all walks of life, yet they are brought together by the common bond of providing care for relatives, friends or neighbours who may be disabled, ill, elderly or generally frail.

But who cares for the carers?

That's why the Association of Carers exists.

The Worcestershire branch is busy forming support groups, producing newsletters and generally trying to provide much-needed respite for carers, of which it is estimated there are 61,000 in the county. Or one in nine of the population.

President of Worcester Severn Rotary Duncan Wright said: "We in this club believe local carers deserve our support. That's why we're pulling all the stops out with this effort."

As well as the carers, some money from the fund-raising will benefit two official rotary charities, one to help eradicate polio in the world by 2005 and the other to help street children in the Indian city of Jalandhar

Meanwhile, Worcester Severn's rotarians are out on the streets of Worcester - with lottery tickets to sell for that car.

All you have to do is correctly guess the last three letters of its registration and put three of its features in the right order.

Then you can zoom off into the sunset in your MX5, although half the members of Worcester Severn will probably want a ride first.