ON its 70th birthday, Far Forest Village Hall hosted an nostalgic look back at events in the community over the last 50 years and beyond.

A variety of village organisations - including the Guides, Scouts and the Women's Institute - provided newspaper cuttings, photos and memorabilia to mark the jubilee at the weekend.

Chairman of the village hall management committee, Steve Garvey, said: "It's to give an indication of what's been going on in the village and district during the Queen's reign.

"People can have a chance to look back over the years and see where we've come from and where we're going."

He added: "There's been quite a bit of interest and everybody's been working their socks off to do this."

A member of one of the village's oldest families, 58-year-old Edwin "Titch" Carter, was displaying photographs of his ancestors dating back to the early 20th century, and some of the tools they used to make a living in the Wyre Forest. Edwin Carter with photos of his Far Forest ancestors. The display was in the village hall.

Also on show was a Kidderminster Shuttle report on the opening of the hall - which cost £1,000 to build - in August 1932.

Far Forest's idyllic country church put on a patriotic flower display at the weekend to add colour to the celebrations across the district. Stella Grayson, from Far Forest Horticultural Society, tends to the arrangement created by Callow Hill Women's Institute.

Holy Trinity Church was decorated with flowers arranged by several village groups, including the horticultural society and the Brownies.

"It's a very nice church and these beautiful arrangements make the church lovely for the golden jubilee," said one of the organisers, Pamela Stuart-White, 68.

"It's part of the village effort, and the Baptist church is doing refreshments."