HEAVY rain and hail were not enough to dampen spirits at the fifth annual Headless Cross wassail.

About 50 noisy revellers turned out for the traditional event, which aims to ensure a fruitful apple harvest in the autumn and scare away evil forces.

A loud procession, featuring musicians from Arrow Valley Brass Band and Redditch Mayor Pattie Hill, was led by Bromsgrove town crier Kevin Ward to Headless Cross Green.

There were noisy bangs and shouts from the crowd, encouraging the trees to 'wake up', and wassail Queen Evie Rose, aged eight, and knight Morrison Sheward, seven, were on hand to offer blessings to the trees by draping cider-soaked toast into the oldest branches.

Orchard volunteer Alistair Waugh said: "The rain was tremendous.

"Just as we were due to start the procession to the Green, the hail belted down but it didn’t dampen our spirits. Everyone was true to form- noisy."

The wassail saw a dramatic and muddy finale to the first ever performance of comedy play Mum and Mummer written and performed by Forza Webheath Players and friends.

Forza Webheath's scriptwriter Michael Bennett said: "It was great fun, a delight to tell a story with resonance for local people. We're a bunch of creative friends who meet socially and share artistic ideas. This was our first, albeit muddy, step into the public sphere with the play. We're really pleased, despite everyone getting soaked."