PLUM enthusiasts have been turning Pershore purple this month to mark the ongoing Plum Festival.

Everyone has got involved and event pets are going purple to show their support.

This weekend the event is set to come to its climax with plum themed fun taking place all over the town.

Organiser Angela Tidmarsh said it has been a busy time. "It's gone really, really well," she said. "Everybody is turning purple for us."

It gets underway on Saturday, when the Big Plum, Beer, Food and Music Festival begins at the Angel Hotel in the town centre.

Running all weekend a number of bands will take to the stage including Prism, a local band playing an original blend of funk rock. They will headline at 9pm on Saturday and again at the Abbey Park at 3pm on Monday.

The rest of the events get going on Saturday.

There will be a gardeners question time on Saturday at the Angel Hotel, the purple shop window competition winner will be announced, there will be the festival arts trial in Pershore Abbey on Saturday and Sunday, live music and entertainment at venues all over the town, the Danters' Fun Fair in the Abbey Park is running the whole weekend, as are boat trips from King George's Field and on Sunday from noon there will be the plum pooches in the park dog show.

The Vale Harmony Barbershop Chorus will be performing in Plum Alley on Monday from 1.30pm to 2.30pm following a "Step Up and Sing With Us" open session in the Baptist Hall from 11am to noon.

Teddy bears will be made welcome in Pershore this Sunday. The fun starts with a Teddy Bears Picnic in the riverside gardens of the Angel Hotel at 12.30pm, followed at 2pm with a procession.

A special celebration service in the Abbey at 2.30pm will include lively songs and hymns and the blessing of teddies and a pound of Pershore plums will be presented to the Registrar as the annual rent for the nearby St. Andrew’s Community Centre to the Worcester Diocese.

On Monday, Plum Fayre Day, brave teddy bears will be leaping from the tower of the Abbey, some down zip-wires and some inside with parachutes.

There will also be a plum parade, a farmers market, the retail market, and more than 1,000 classic cars on the Abbey grounds.

Pershore Mayor Tony Rowley said he was looking forward to the weekend.

"We also have the visitors over from Bad Neustadt," he said. "I am certainly looking forward to the main activities in the Abbey Park. It's going to be a fun packed weekend."

Volunteers are still needed to assist on the day and a charity could raise some money by operating a park and ride car park in the town.

Anyone that can help should contact Angela Tidmarsh on 01386 565373 or 07967640819.