IT MAY not be the season for asparagus and plums yet but the Worcestershire delicacies are making an early appearance to highlight the work of a county tourism specialist.

One of Wychavon District Council’s longest-serving and highly regarded employees, Angela Tidmarsh, has been nominated for the 2015 Tourism Superstar of the Year – a prestigious accolade that honours individuals working in tourism who go above and beyond the call of duty time and time again.

Angela is one of 10 people from across England shortlisted for this year’s award which aims to crown the country’s outstanding unsung talent. The award scheme is being run by the Daily Mirror and VisitEngland and the public votes for the national winner.

And to get as many votes as possible, Angela is taking a tour of the county over the next few weeks together with some of the characters like Prunella Plum, Gus the Asparagus Man and the Asparafairy, who help to draw the crowds to many of the local festivals and events.

Along the way she is calling in on businesses, which rely on tourism, and will be served up some special green and purple dishes highlighting the asparagus and plum theme.

Angela has already visited Hampton Ferry at Evesham where Raphael’s restaurant served up Asparagus Honey Roast Ham and Parmesan Bread Pudding followed by Plum Bread Pudding.

Two-tone green and purple jam has been created in her honour by Elspeth Robertson of Wayside Farm Shop, Wickhamford, and the Pickled Plum restaurant in Pershore has come up with purple soup while the town’s Abbey Butchers is serving green and purple pie and sausages.

The Kettle Sings tea room off Jubilee Drive, West Malvern, is marking Angela’s campaign with a green and purple Battenberg cake.

Angela, who joined Wychavon in 1976 and has been the tourism officer for 32 years, is the driving force behind the district's Asparagus and Plum Festivals, and also created the Blossom Trail. These events bring hundreds of thousands of tourists into the county each year.

Since its creation in 1982, the Blossom Trail – which is the only one of its kind in the country - has expanded from an eight-mile journey showcasing a handful of local growers to a 50-mile AA signposted route, linking the honey-coloured Cotswolds to the picturesque Vale of Evesham.

Angela said: “When I discovered I’d been nominated for this award I was honoured. Now I’ve reached the shortlist of 10, I’m completely overwhelmed and ‘almost’ speechless!

“To be rewarded in this way for doing something that I enjoy and that benefits and brings joy to so many is wonderful. My goal now is to do well in the awards as a way of saying thank you to everyone who has helped and supported me over the years.

“If I win, Worcestershire wins, as it will mean lots of national publicity for the county. So a vote for me is a vote to encourage more people to visit us.

“Even The Blue Cross Charity Shop in Pershore is creating a purple and green window display. And lots of other people have promised their support by retweeting #VOTE4ANGE to spread the voting link far and wide.”

The Vote4Ange parade will be the culmination of activities on February 21 when she'll take to the road on her tour lorry visiting Evesham Country Park and Webbs of Wychbold. Her entourage will include Gus the Asparagus Man, Prunella Plum, the Plum Charmer, the Asparafairy and a host of other well wishers.

Anyone can vote in the public ballot, which started on January 31 and closes on February 28. Visit www.mirror.co.uk/tourismsuperstar to cast your vote.

To find out more about Angela, the festivals she helps organise and Wychavon go to www.visitworcestershire.org/tourismsuperstar