BEWDLEY Concert Band had a slight hitch behind the scenes when they were asked to play at the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, but luckily Bewdley Festival came to the rescue.

When the six month old band was booked to play in the town's Jubilee Gardens on the day of the Royal Wedding, a shortage of funds meant they had no music stands.

Luckily, Bewdley Festival organisers helped out with a grant to purchase the essential equipment and presented the band with a cheque, just in time, two days before their performance.

Roger Key, chairman of Bewdley Festival Limited, said: "In addition to running the annual festival we are sometimes able to make small donations to causes which fit our charitable aim of promoting various forms of the arts in the neighbourhood of Bewdley.

“As a true community project with over thirty members of all ages from schoolchildren to pensioners, the Bewdley Concert band gives pleasure to both players and audiences. It ticks all the right boxes and we are delighted to have been able to help out.”