HEADLESS Cross's second ever wassail will be held on Saturday, February 2, which coincides with the Winter Ale Festival at Rocklands Social Club.

A custom from long before England celebrated Christmas, wassailing is practiced in orchards to ensure a fruitful apple harvest later that year.

A noisy procession of clattering pots and pans will leave The Rocklands and walk to Headless Cross Green where a ceremony will awaken the trees and scare away evil spirits.

Toast, soaked in cider from the last harvest, will be handed to the Wassail Queen, draped in the tree boughs. Branches throughout the orchard will also be decked with the booze laden toasts. Hot spiced wassail drink will be shared for donations.

Proceedings will be led by Bromsgrove's Town Crier and Arrow Valley Brass Band will be accompanying the singing revellers. This year’s Wassail Queen is Elinor Braithwaite.

People, who are invited to bring their pots, pans and horns, should meet at 7pm at The Rocklands Social Club on Birchfield Road.

Last year's Wassail saw more than 50 people brave the snow for a magical evening.

For details of how to get involved and future volunteering with the orchard group, ask at the Wassail or see headlessxorchard.org.uk.