Oh we do like to be beside... (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Oh we do like to be beside...

SHIPSTON residents will be all at sea this Saturday when the town goes nautical for the day.

Shipston-on-Sea is an attempt to boost the town's image as a tourist destination and put the town on the map.

The event, which runs from 10am to 4pm, will include a visit by an RNLI lifeboat, sea shanties from the town band, a remote-controlled boats display and people dressed in seafaring costume.

A number of shops are dressing their windows with a nautical theme and some local pubs and restaurants are offering seaside specials.

In addition, Shipston signs will be changed to read Shipston-on-Sea rather than "on-Stour" and bunting will be flutter in the streets. Organisers admit that the event in one of the country's most landlocked towns - the nearest sea is 75 miles away - is a bit "mad" but hope it will build into a bigger festival next year.

"We are doing it on a small scale because we didn't get the funding. We will be using it to recruit people for next year," said Susan Lewis, a committee member of Stour Power, the town's regeneration body.

Stour Power is also using the event to discuss its plans to promote the town, with new signs, maps in car parks, new guides and a tourist information point.

"It's about making the town more attractive for visitors and local people alike," said Ms Lewis.