MEMBERS of the public are being invited to find out about love and death in old parish records

Worcestershire County Council's Archive and Archaeology service is staging a monthly series of workshops delving into the records which are key sources for family and local history.

Starting on Tuesday, February 18 at The Hive, in the centre of Worcester, the workshops take place between 2pm - 4pm and cost £6.

"Parish Records contain many stories which help people find out about their family or local history, and this is a great opportunity for people to find out more about them," said Paul Hudson, Learning and Outreach manager with the service.

"It is also an opportunity to get some of our original archives out to show people what is available."

The workshops can be valuable for tracing an individual's family history, but they also help tell the story of a community and give fascinating insights into the past.

The parish records contain details about baptisms, marriages and burials going back more than 400 years.

The first workshop coincides with the Love Worcester festival, promoting the heritage of Worcester, with events taking place across the city.

To book a place, email explorethepast@worcestershire.gov.uk, call 01905 766352 or visit the Explore the past desk on level 2 at the Hive.