THE 28th Bewdley Festival has been described as a great success by its organisers.

Bewdley Festival brought its traditional mix of local talent, regional celebrities and national and international stars of stage, screen and concert halls, all packed into an eventful ten days and all delivered entirely by volunteers.

The event, which ran from Friday, October 9, to Sunday, October 18, is much anticipated by lovers of music, comedy, drama and the arts in Wyre Forest.

The festival kicked off with British music legend Leo Sayer’s sold out performance, as part of a series of rare and much-anticipated shows with his Restless Years Tour.

The festival closed with a lecture on King John and a party night with the Bootleg Blues Brothers on the Saturday, followed by a morning church service at St Anne’s Church on the Sunday.

Other performances across the 10-day festival included Toyah Wilcox, Lesley Smith, Andrew Downes, Dr Phil Hammond and Max Keen.

Dave Collins, press and marketing officer for the festival, said: “It was another great Bewdley Festival with audience members and sponsors complimenting its eclectic mix with music of all kinds – pop, punk, ballads, opera, classical and the Youth Showcase – acting, comedy, history, scriptwriting, science, political satire, journalism and art.

“All events were well received and supported, from the nationally known names of stage and television, to the wartime heroics of the humble pigeon.

“It is always a joy to bring a programme of entertainment, education and culture to such appreciative audiences, thanks in great part to the generosity of our sponsors.

“Now we have to start planning to do it all again next year.”

Other aspects of the Festival which will continue throughout October include Bewdley Museum’s Wyre Forest Gallery exhibition ‘A Breath of Fresh Air’ showcasing the work of Shropshire artist Penelope Timmis and the Duck House Trail in Jubilee Gardens will display the results of a Community Arts Project.

The display of the 32 Duck Houses have been decorated on individual themes by the town’s community groups, organisations and schools.