WORCESTERSHIRE Greenpeace has organised a month of action across the county to highlight the first grassroots GM action to be tried by jury.

Next week, two Herefordshire people are due to stand trial at Worcester Crown Court charged with criminal damage.

Barbara Charvet, aged 59, a rehabilitation therapist from Michaelchurch Escley, and Jim Ridout, 26, a garden designer from Orcop, are alleged to have entered a test crop of GM maize at the ADAS research centre, Preston Wynne, Herefordshire.

After six hearings the case, which began in October last year, was transferred from Hereford Magistrates Court.

The delay was due to a dispute over the cost of the damage, which determines whether criminal cases can go to Crown Court.

To highlight the trial the Greenpeace group was due to organise a series of events, including a street theatre and stalls at 11.30am today.

"We're setting up a mock trial outside the Guildhall and a variety of groups will have stalls to highlight the GM crop situation," said Peter Robinson, co-ordinator of the Worcestershire Greenpeace group.

He confirmed they would also be carrying out new a survey to find out the feelings of city people on GM crops.

A range of action groups from Birmingham, Coventry and Hereford will be converging on Worcester during the week to take part in activities including supermarket surveys and a peaceful anti-GM procession on Monday, starting at the Marrs Bar in Pierpoint Street, from 9.30am.

"On Monday, we'll have a parade with local and national groups," said Mr Robinson.

"After the march we could be going to DEFRA headquarters at Whittington, to deliver the results of our GM Worcester city survey."

Members of the group will also be creating a GM-free register for members of the public to sign.

This could include residents who own allotments and gardeners and want to declare their land GM free.