actor Corin Redgrave is to return to Bromyard to give a charity performance at the Conquest Theatre.

Mr Redgrave, who stayed at his cousin's home in the town during the 1950s, has agreed to appear for free to raise money for a Bromyard charity which hopes to build a dam in Africa.

He was approached by his old playmate Mike Cresswell, Bromyard's town clerk, who used to live next door to the Redgraves.

Mr Cresswell, who is on the Bromyard-Buhuri Link Project Committee, wrote to the actor asking whether he would be interested in helping.

He said: "I haven't seen him for years but I've followed his career. I didn't think he would remember me when I contacted him but he did. Although he's older, he's still very much the same person."

Mr Cresswell was invited to see Mr Redgrave perform his one-man show Blunt Talking, which tells the story of Anthony Blunt, the 1960s art historian-turned-spy. Afterwards, Mr Redgrave agreed to bring the show to Bromyard.

Mr Redgrave told the Malvern Gazette & Ledbury Reporter: "I often do charity performances and my sister, Vanessa, is the patron at the Conquest, so that's why this show appealed to me."

All of the proceeds from the event will go towards the Bromyard-Buhuri Natural Resources Conservation Project which hopes to help store water for an irrigation project in Tanzania.

The performance takes place at 7.30pm on Sunday, March 30. Tickets are £12, available from 01885 483721.