HUNDREDS of youngsters will proudly march through Kidderminster for the scout and guides annual St George’s Day celebrations.

Kidderminster Scout & Guide’s St George’s Day Parade & Church Services will take place on Sunday, April 22 leaving New Road at 10.30am.

Around 1,000 people will take part in the parade, including three bands, with temporary road closures in place throughout the march.

A spokesman for Kidderminster Scouts said: “The roads will be closed on a rolling basis, to allow safe passage for all the parade whilst at the same time causing minimum disruption to all road users.

“However there may be some delays, so motorists are advised to steer clear of this part of the town and seek alternative routes where possible”.

The parade will be led by KD7 (Comberton) group with the Shirley Pipe Band, King Norton Youth Marching Band and Halesowen Scout Band.

They will travel along New Road, Prospect Hill and Bromsgrove Street where the guides, brownies and rainbows will separate and proceed down Coventry Street to Baxter Church for the service with guests including Deputy Mayor Martin Stooke. Their collection will be going to the church.

The parade will continue along to Radford Avenue where beavers and cubs will go to St George’s Church for their service. Their collection will go to Shelter Box.

Attending here will be the scouts’ district commissioner Julie Goodyear along with guests including Kidderminster Mayor Nicky Gale, Kidderminster Scouts president John Beard, county representative Rob William and Councillors Fran Oborski and Mary Rayner.

Scouts, explorers and young leaders will continue along Radford Avenue to the Horsefair, Church Fields to St Mary’s Church for their service.

Their guests will include Kidderminster Scouts chairman Marcus Hart, MP Mark Garnier, Councillors David Little, John Hard and Ian Hardiman, Mike Thompson and Clive Joyce.

The scouts will return via Coventry Street to meet up with the Guides at the Bull Ring and the salute will take part at the Town Hall. The parade will proceed down New Road expecting to arrive at approximately 12.45pm.