THOUSANDS of people flocked to Worcestershire over the weekend as the county hosted a variety of fun-filled events.

The streets of Droitwich were packed on Saturday as townsfolk and visitors celebrated the inaugural Salt Day.

There was a surprise as the marketplace was officially named Saltbarrow Market and the town's mayor Jan Bolton unveiled a special plaque.

There was live music, belly dancers, market stalls and boat trips along the canal. The event celebrated the town's salt heritage, as Droitwich is famous for its brine baths.

Wychavon District Council's area partnership manager Joe Ling, said: "There was a real vibe, with a life and energy which I haven't seen for a long time. It was a great local event."

Meanwhile, there wasn't a bird in sight on Saturday or Sunday as residents in Callow End and Powick, near Worcester enjoyed a scarecrow festival.

Most of the Worzel Gummidge lookalikes were at St James's Church in Callow End and St Peter's Church in Powick, with others dotted around neighboring villages.

Speaking at the event, organised by the Friends of St Peter's parish Church, chairman Peter Gedge said: "There has been a real buzz, with some absolutely fantastic designs."

The money raised will be split between the Friends, St James's Church and the two village primary schools.

Extreme sports fans were in for a treat on Saturday and Sunday with a mountain' festival at the Out to Grass Mountainboard Centre at Cradley, near Worcester.

The event attracted hundreds of visitors, with some of the country's best riders competing in a UK leg of the European Mountainboard Cup.

One of the organisers and MBS team manager A J Watkins said professional riders took to the track four at a time, displaying a variety of freestyle jumps.

"It went down really well and we had some wicked feedback from the spectators and local riders," he said.

On Saturday a Battle of Worcester project open day was held at The Guildhall in Worcester's High Street - an event where visitors could learn all about the 1651 conflict and the project's plans for the future.

The event, organised by Worcester city and county councils and the Battle of Worcester Society and Battlefields Trust, aimed to secure funding for a major project combining an archaeological survey, access improvements, signage and artistic interpretation at the various related sites. A battlefield centre and memorial are also planned.