It hasn't been an easy year for Pershore. The pretty market town has been under siege from heavy machinery and temporary traffic lights as highway improvements marred the usually picturesque street scene.

However, traders, visitors and residents alike have rallied to ensure this thriving centre survived the onslaught - and now the end is here and there is an air of anticipation breathing life back into the town centre.

Val Wood, mayor of Pershore and secretary of Pershore Chamber of Trade, said all the shops, restaurants and other businesses in High Street, Broad Street and the market had been holding their own during the work, which gradually took over the main thoroughfares since it began back in January.

With the roadworks due to finish on April 20, Pershore is looking forward to almost re-launching itself and there is a definite buzz of excitement in the town.

"The support has been fantastic and people haven't really stayed away as we feared. They have all still come to Pershore and managed going around the maze of barriers in the street," said Coun Wood.

"People will notice a difference when they visit. The road in the High Street has been narrowed in several places and the pavement Ü has been widened, giving places like Nicole's café more space to spread out chairs and tables outside.

"Number 8 also has more room and will now be able to put seating outside during summer evenings. We are also going to put hanging baskets on the new lampposts."

The intensive work also included repairing and resurfacing the carriageway and improving drainage, meaning Pershore's centre has almost had a complete facelift.

Pershore remains an unspoilt market town and is one of the prettiest places in the area to visit, with its elegant Georgian buildings and magnificent abbey. Many of the buildings along Bridge Street and Broad Street are listed and poets such as John Betjeman have been inspired and enticed by the town's charm.

Surrounded by beautiful countryside and little villages which have remained virtually unchanged for centuries, it is a haven for cyclists and ramblers.

Pershore itself has a range of specialist shops as well as an indoor market, pubs, restaurants and cafés, giving the feel of a bustling and happy place to stop. It also has its own community arts centre, Number 8, which runs a varied programme of events from theatre to films and art exhibitions.

The next big event, which is being earmarked as the town's big reopening, is the late May Bank Holiday carnival.

In its heyday the annual carnival regularly attracted 7,000 visitors and it is hoped that this year it will prove the boost the town deserves.

"This will be our first big event and this year's theme is Worcestershire Wildlife. We hope to have a parade of decorated floats decorated with this theme in mind, which should be fun," said Coun Wood.

The carnival includes various sideshows and fun and games both in the town centre and in Abbey Park. This year it will be run in conjunction with a farmer's market to be held in the morning, with the shops also open, and a Green Festival illustrating what energy-saving measures we can take.

Pershore is not just a shopping centre. It is a dynamic town and this summer's line-up of events proves just that. On July 12, there is an art and photo show in the town hall and in St Andrew's Church Hall and it is hoped people from around the area will submit their photos for display.

August sees the annual jazz festival, which attracts fans from around the country, and the four-week plum festival, which has brought the area worldwide fame and culminates with the plum fair on August bank holiday weekend.

Coun Wood said: "This is going to be a good year for Pershore. After the terrible floods last July and then the roadworks at the start of this year, we are entitled to a good year. The Chamber of Trade, Pershore Town Council, Wychavon District Council and others have been working together to promote Pershore and make this a great year for the town."

10:40am Wednesday 9th April 2008

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