An archaeology dig will give Vale residents the chance to get their hands dirty and uncover the area’s history.

The community dig will take place in Badsey later this month as part of a series of digs that seek to get the Worcestershire community involved.

Spread throughout the village, 20 ‘test pits’ will be excavated in order to answer questions about the area’s origins and development over time.

Nina O’Hare, community archaeologist at Worcestershire County Council, said: “This is a great opportunity for anyone interested in archaeology to have a go and unearth answers about the past.

“It’s not a mock excavation but real research - relatively little is known about medieval settlements in rural Worcestershire as many villages are still lived in, making large excavations impossible.

“Through small ‘test pits’ in gardens, we’re able to find clues left over the centuries and piece together the village’s story.”

No previous experience is needed to take part and participant will be put into teams of two to four to tackle one of the 20 test pits.

Participants are encouraged to take part for the whole weekend in order to see their progress from start to finish.

Archaeologists from Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service will be on hand to provide guidance and equipment.

A similar event, in Winchenford on April 23 and 24, saw nearly 100 people take part.

Among the finds that weekend were two 18th century counterfeit coins, a clay pipe containing a maker’s mark and lots of pottery from the medieval period onwards.

The Badsey event takes place on Saturday May 21 and Sunday 22 and will be the fourth settlement to be explored by the Small Pits, Big Ideas project.

The project runs until Spring 2023, culminating in an exhibition showcasing the results.

Anyone wishing to take part can contact Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service at explorethepast@worcestershire.gov.uk or call 01905 844090.