Town is turning Euro for weekend

Bewdley will become the first town in the country to accept Euro notes and coins ..... at least for one weekend.

Shopkeepers in Bewdley have decided to celebrate 20 years of exchange trips with its twin town of Vellmar in Germany by making the town a Euro Zone on April 18 and April 19.

More than 40 businesses in the town have agreed to accept payment in euros as well as pounds sterling.

Visitors will be able to enjoy a cup of coffee and a croissant for five Euros, have a ten Euro haircut, buy flowers for five Euros and purchase a loaf of bread for one Euro. On the Sunday even some of the Churches in the area will accept Euros.

Every shop taking part in the event will be displaying a special poster which will list the tempting offers they have on offer.

Peter Hayden, from the Bewdley and District Twinning Association, said: "When we came up with the Euro Zone weekend ideal we thought it would be difficult to persuade the shops to take part. However, we have been overwhelmed by their enthusiasm."