IT is best foot forward for our Bramble Appeal as a Kidderminster shoe store steps in to raise money for the canal boat’s restoration.

Brantano in Weavers Wharf is hosting a ladies’ night next Thursday from 4pm to 9pm, when all shoes will have 20 per cent off.

Local businesses jumping on board include Thorntons, which will be giving away free samples and displaying its range of Mother’s Day and Easter treats.

Frankie and Benny’s will be offering a free bottle of wine and £10 off a return visit with bookings made for Mother’s Day, while D’nada Ltd will show a range of gifts and flower displays for the special occasion.

Staff from the Sweet Jar will demonstrate cake decorating and Jewellery Ltd will be offering pieces at sale prices.

Raffle prizes include a meal for two at Frankie and Benny's, Thorntons chocolates and Mother’s Day gifts. Guests can enjoy drinks and nibbles on arrival while they browse the discounted shoes.

Money raised will go towards the £7,000 needed to get Bramble, a 1934 working boat currently based at Stourport Canal Basins, looking ship shape for generations of children to learn from.

Pauline Annis, chairman of Stourport Forward, which owns the boat, said: “We are so grateful to Brantano and their colleagues for organising this fund-raising ladies’ night event to support the restoration of Bramble.

“We have been really encouraged by the wide range of innovative ways that local businesses have offered their support to The Shuttle’s Bramble Appeal and especially to The Shuttle for their ongoing support.

“We are looking forward to attending the ladies night next week and would be very happy to take Bramble to visit Weavers Wharf, once she has been restored, so that local shops and their customers will be able to see what they have helped to achieve.”

Ways to jump aboard our Bramble Appeal: If you or your school or group can organise a fund-raising event, contact The Shuttle and we will help publicise it by featuring it in our weekly coverage of the appeal.

If you wish to send a donation, make cheques payable to Stourport Forward Limited and send them to Jennifer Meierhans, at The Shuttle, 6 Towers Buildings, Blackwell Street, Kidderminster DY10 2DY.

Please include your contact details as Stourport Forward would like to respond with letters of thanks to all those supporting the appeal. If you can help with materials for Bramble’s refurbishment, contact Jennifer Meierhans on 01562 633346.

For more details of the appeal, contact Shuttle editor Clive Joyce on 01384 358282.