THE roaring 20s will be celebrated as the Pershore Plum Festival paints the town purple during the weekend finale.

The month-long event culminates over the weekend, celebrating the 21st year since the festival's return in 1996.

Since it was relaunched, the festival has grown into a major event for Pershore, attracting tens of thousands of visitors.

The food festival only features stall holders who have agreed to sell something plummy.

Angela Tidmarsh, chairman of the festival said: "Last year we estimated around 25,000 people came to Pershore over the weekend.

"It is going to be brilliant this year, we have so much going on.

"Local businesses have been great this year and they have really got behind it, by making their windows purple and yellow."

There will be nearly 100 stalls and attractions selling plum-themed goodies and festival mementoes, and offering people the chance to taste scores of plum varieties.

Other attractions include a new plum pedal push for children up to 16 to race, whilst the Angel Hotel is hosting a beer and food festival.

The festival has introduced a shuttle bus system for the bank holiday Monday, which costs just £2 and runs from the train station, as an attempt to reduce congestion.

As well as festival mascots, Eggbert and Prunella Plum, entertainers and musicians will be on hand to keep the crowds amused across all three days.

Over 1,000 classic cars as well as the Worcester Male Voice Choir will be on show in the grounds of Pershore Abbey on Bank Holiday Monday, and there is a plum fun zone with a fair, banghra and samba workshops, zorbing, storytelling, river boat trips, dragon boat racing, a World War Two display and an arts trail, plus lots of other family attractions.

Pershore Plums running Club are also running their annual 10K on Sunday during the festival.

This year, 350 runners have signed up for the run, starting at Pershore Leisure Centre at 10am.

Over 75 Pershore Plum Plodders members will be marshals throughout the course and they also welcome spectators to cheer on the runners.

For more information, go to pershoreplumfestival.org.uk