THE Friends of St James's Church will be staging a motor treasure hunt with a difference on Friday, July 13, starting at the Dingle from 6.30pm, with the last start at 7.15pm.

The organisers claim that the easy 40-mile route round the area is (almost) foolproof and that absolutely no map reading skills are needed.

Competitors will need to look out for solutions based on language, general and local knowledge (and possibly a bit of myth). Entry is £5 per vehicle, minimum of a driver and one passenger and no maximum so it should be an ideal evening's entertainment for families starting the long school holidays!

The finish will be at The Brewers Arms where the trophy will be presented and refreshments served. Entries will be restricted to 20 vehicles, so you are asked to book in advance with Norman Bennett on 01684 561743 or westmalvern@supa world.com by July 6, stating a preferred start time. All proceeds from the event will go to the Organ Restoration Fund.

Looking further ahead to WestFest, rumours have been circulating that the event scheduled for August 27 has been cancelled.

However, the organisers assure us that nothing could be further from the truth and that the new committee is going ahead with plans for what it hoped will be the biggest and best of the series to date. As its reputation spreads, applications to perform at WestFest have increased and new fewer than 40 groups have applied to take part this year.

Among those who have signed up is the well- known star Gordon Giltrap. Lamb Inn landlord and WestFest press officer Colin Robinson assures us that the recent wet weather has been laid on now by the committee, so as to ensure that West Malvern's event later in the summer will escape Glastonbury-type monsoons-and-mud and should instead enjoy unbroken sunshine and blue skies!