A TRADITIONAL part of summer life in Stourport is to be revived with a new riverside bandstand about to take shape.

Construction of the Jubilee Bandstand - on the same Riverside Meadows spot as its forerunner - starts at the end of June.

Work is expected to take three weeks.

The £24,000 project has been made possible by a three-year fundraising effort by Stourport Rotary Club and will provide a stage for live music and other attractions in the heart of the town's most attractive setting.

Designed by a Stourport architect, the structure will be supported by uprights from another bandstand about 100 years old.

"We're having lots of events down on the riverside but there's nowhere to do it. Bands need to be raised up so people can see them," said club president Pete Roberts.

"The old bandstand was moved to Memorial Park during the war and it hasn't been used for years.

"It's now completely dilapidated.

" We found it would be too expensive to move it back."

A grand opening has been pencilled in for one Sunday in July or August.

"It will be quite a big occasion," said Mr Roberts.

"It will be a free concert and the West Mercia Police Band will open it.

"We're hoping to get brass bands and local school bands as well as a scouts and guides band."

He added: "All the money was raised locally through Christmas collections, fetes, balls and skittle evenings.

"We've had a lot of bricks specially made for the bandstand with individual names of people who sponsored them."

Any Stourport bands wishing to take part in the opening concert can contact Mr Roberts on 01299 826930.

l Carnival entry forms are available from Pete's Prints, Bridge Street.