ELEPHANTS and a Morgan car are set to feature in a major community pageant giving life to Bromyard's past and present traditions.

Plans are well advanced for the event to coincide with the official opening of the new Bromyard Library and the unveiling of a specially commissioned piece of artwork.

The pageant is being planned for Saturday, April 10, and will bring to life items depicted in a 17-metre long continuous frieze, which is to span two sides of the new library building. Mike Cresswell, the Bromyard town clerk, put forward the idea after seeing suggestions from David Jones, a Ludlow artist, for the carved and painted interlocking panels.

Elephants, a Morgan car, hop picking, cider making, agriculture, farming, Bromyard Gala, the Folk Festival, the church and historic buildings are among the items in the artwork.

"The frieze spans centuries of Bromyard's history as well as current events and gives enormous scope for a pageant. We have written to organisations, societies, schools and local traders and we're looking for everyone to have an input in this event, including the surrounding villages," he said.

A circus owned by Ada Chapman moved to Bromyard at the beginning of the Second World War and the elephants were housed initially in the yard behind the King's Arms and used on the land at The Tack Farm, Edwyn Ralph.

But security was not good behind the pub and the elephants would roam through the high street, stealing cakes and other goods.

Mr Cresswell said: "We were trying to find a live elephant through using the internet and we managed to find one in Northern Ireland. But I think our intention now is to make a model of an elephant."

Bromyard Town Council is providing £1,000 for the event, and is applying for grants and seeking sponsorship from local businesses and organisations.

"People who have been involved have been very excited about the project. We just want as many people as possible to participate because it's not just something for Bromyard, but for the surrounding villages as well," he said.

People wanting to be involved in the pageant,should contact Mike Cresswell on 01885 482825.