YOUNG girls from Pershore and the surrounding villages are being given the chance to become a princess for a year and help promote one of the area’s greatest assets – plums.

The search is on once again for the Pershore Plum Princess, who plays a key role with her attendants in promoting the town’s plum festival, which marks its 20th year, and Pershore generally throughout the year.

The plum job is open to any young girl aged from eight to 11, who lives in Pershore or any of the surrounding villages like Drakes Broughton, Pinvin, Defford, Eckington, the Lenches, Cropthorne, the Combertons and Fladbury etc.

The new plum princess will be selected and crowned at the opening event of the month-long festival on Sunday July 3 during Plum Blossom Sunday at the Angel Hotel in Pershore.

The free event starts at 12 noon and includes music, entertainment and games for all the family, while refreshments can be bought from The Angel.

Wychavon District Council tourism officer Angela Tidmarsh said the princess and attendants have a lot of fun and do an important job for the festival.

“They go along to the race night in Worcester and last year presented one of the prizes, they help out with the merchandise, they get involved with the Great Comberton flower show, attend the Plum Bike Meet and the princess plants a plum tree,” she said.

“The first princess was crowned in 2008 and the families have said it is a life-changing experience. It gives them a lot more confidence and a chance to mix with and talk to people they would not normally meet.

“They get their pictures taken and are in the press and nine times out of 10 they appear on TV. They just love it. They are little town celebrities. The roles last for a year but the most intense period of activities is during the plum festival.”

She added that one of the reasons for having the attendants is so that when the princess is unavailable to go to an event, one of the others can step in.

The Pershore Plum Festival dates back to 1920 when it formed part of the town’s flower show. A poster advertising the event that year described it as “The Largest Plum Show on Earth”.

Mrs Tidmarsh said the nice thing about the festival is that all the events have free entry and people can decided to go along on the spur of the moment. The organisers also try to add new features each year to make it interesting and educational.

“We have some new things this year and we are trying to make it The Greatest Plum Show on Earth.” For a full list of the events visit http://www.pershoreplumfestival.org.uk/index.php/events/ or ring the Wychavon Tourism Office on 01386 565373.

More information about the princess’s role is available from Olivia Holder on 01386 555139 or by e-mailing oliviaholder@aol.com or by ringing Angela Tidmarsh on 01386 565373. Application forms are available from Angela or by visiting http://www.pershoreplumfestival.org.uk/index.php/2014/11/plum-princess-garden-party/

All wannabe princesses and their attendants have to be available for the official launch of the Pershore Plum Festival on Saturday August 27 and to carry out other plum duties throughout August and all day during the Plum Fayre on Bank Holiday Monday August 29.

Applications for the role should be submitted by 5pm on Saturday June 18 and should be returned to Sweet Traditions in Pershore, The Angel Hotel or Wychavon District Council at the Civic Centre Pershore.