MODEL coracles made in workshops being run as part of the Discover Bewdley Weekend will be raced against each other for the first time on the River Severn in the town.

The race, organised by Bewdley Round Table, is one of many events taking place on Sunday and Monday, May 4 and 5.

Coracle model-making workshops will be held in Bewdley Museum on Saturday and Sunday, May 3 and 4, before the race on bank holiday Monday, May 5, at noon. Coracles will be launched upstream of Bewdley Rowing Club, with the first over the finishing line winning a prize.

Anyone can take part in the workshops to create a coracle and customise it. All of the coracles made at the workshops will be entered in the race.

There is a small fee for joining in the workshops, which run from 10.30am to noon and 2pm to 2.30pm. To book a place, contact the museum on 01299 403573.

Clive Jones, chairman of Bewdley Round Table, said: "We're organising the coracle race as it's a great way to celebrate Bewdley's heritage and this is what the Discover Bewdley Weekend is all about.

"The workshops will be really interesting and we can't wait to see what's going to happen to the boats after we have launched them."

Discover Bewdley Weekend events take place in the town's centre from 10am to 5pm on the Sunday and Monday.

Among this year's attractions are markets, street entertainment, a riverside parade, birds of prey displays, street theatre, poetry recitals and live music.

There are also guided walks, town tours, water rescue demonstrations, behind the scenes at Severn Valley Railway, exhibitiions and workshops and a beer festival.

Central to the weekend will be the launch of Bewdley's new heritage trail, which is being celebrated with a parade of costumed people, VIPs in civic dress, musicians, including Bewdley Scout Band, dancers and stilt walkers, all travelling along the riverside from Dog Lane to Jubilee Gardens.

Pupils from St Anne's CE Primary School and the Bewdley School and Sixth Form Centre and the heritage trail steering group have developed the trail with Heritage Lottery funding.

Most of the events are free. For more information about times, venues and meeting points, contact Bewdley Tourist Information Centre on 01299 404740 or Bewdley Development Trust on 01299 405516 or visit www.bewdley.org.uk