THE traditional Ledbury Celebration, held on the last day of the town's poetry festival, becomes “great” this year when it moves to the historic High Street market place to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the iconic Market House.

Arrangements for the July 9 event are bringing together organisations across Ledbury to put together a very special day.

Already signed up are Ledbury Food Group, the Friends of the Master’s House, the Youth Council and Ledbury Fringe, as well as many businesses, traders and performers.

A street market featuring the best of local food will fill the High Street while a range of poets, musicians, bands and dancers will provide continuous and varied entertainment by the Market House.

In addition to the Market House itself, all Ledbury’s heritage buildings will be open emphasising Ledbury’s “joined up heritage”, providing opportunities through the day to step back in time to meet characters from the past.

The Market House will host an art and photo exhibition of young people’s work as well as showing an exhibit of the history of the building.

Phillippa Slinger, the manager of Ledbury Poetry Festival, said they hoped to pull out all the stops to provide an unforgettable day of poetry, dance and music which is fitting for our 21st “coming of age”.

"Many people tell us they miss the town parties of old, and we’re re-invigorating and bringing it up-to-date with a bumper crop of entertainment which will explode like a party popper onto the streets of Ledbury," she added.

"There will be something for everyone to enjoy, and we are delighted to be working with the Food Group and the Town Council to ensure everyone is catered for – it’s a real measure of the immense community spirit in Ledbury”.

Meanwhile, Griff Holliday – from the Ledbury Food Group – said: “The Market House has been the centre of the market for 400 years, a symbol of Ledbury’s continuing excellence in producing good local food. This day gives us all an opportunity to enjoy our food heritage – we are pleased to be a part of it.”

Full details of the event will be available nearer the time via www.ledburyfoodgroup.org.