WYRE Forest’s streets were packed as district Scout and Guide groups marched through the three main towns during their annual St George’s Day parades.

Events took place throughout Sunday in Kidderminster, Stourport and Bewdley as youngsters took to the streets.

In Kidderminster, about 1,000 Scouts and Guides, led by The Explorers and Young Leaders, marched to and from New Road with services taking place in between. Guides, Brownies and Rainbows attended a service at Bull Ring-based Baxter Church, with the Beavers and Cubs marching on to St George’s Church and the Scouts continuing to St Mary’s and All Saints Church.

The groups met up again following their services and marched through the town to Kidderminster Town Hall where Mayor John Campion took the salute.

Mr Campion said: “The parade was fantastic, as was the organisation before hand and we had an excellent event. I was really proud to see all the young people marching through the town to show their pride and respect.

“Being Mayor is extremely special and so was taking the salute. Also in the role as Mayor you are champion for the town and it was great to see so many proud Kidderminstarians line the streets. We were very lucky as it only rained during the last 10 minutes but the young people marched on and all the spectators stayed, it did not put us off at all.”

Money was being collected by respective groups for Baxter Church, Help for Heroes and Children with Cancer UK.

Mark Woodward, of Kidderminster and District Scouts and Guides, added: “The parade went absolutely brilliant, it was a cracking turnout and I was well impressed. It was good for the town and this year there was a lot more people out in the town watching. On behalf of the Scouts and Guides we were well impressed with the turnout and the support from the public as well.”

In Stourport, hundreds of people lined the streets in the afternoon along the route from Memorial Park, Park Avenue, to St Michael’s and All Saints Church.

Mayor Ken Henderson said: “It was a brilliant day and quite a good turnout - a lot better than last year which was good as the streets were quite full.There were probably about 200 young people leading the parade and there was quite a following - It was brilliant to see and the youngsters made a lot of the day which was really good.”

The streets were also packed in Bewdley, where Scouts and Guides members set off from Beales Corner, through the town for a service at St Anne’s Church. Following the service, Mayor Linda Candlin took the salute at the Guildhall.

She said: “We had a large amount of young people and quite a good turnout of councillors and it was a very nice service. The weather was lovely and we did not have any rain. The sun shines on Bewdley.”

In Far Forest Scouts and Guides marched to Holy Trinity Church.

TO VIEW A PICTURE GALLERY OF CLICK HERE. Pictures by Colin Hill and Lisa Cooper.