Josh Layton

The Elisabeth the Chef chilled-desserts factory in Lower Broadheath, near Worcester, is nearing closure after Country Style announced plans to make all 367 employees redundant. Workers say the site has become a ghost town, with production largely wound down and only a small number of staff remaining to complete engineering and maintenance work. The factory is scheduled to close on July 14, with some engineering staff staying until July 18. The government has made its Rapid Response Service available, while the future use of the site remains uncertain. Country Style cited a lack of demand for its products but did not respond to requests for comment.

Sunshine Festival will return to Fish Meadow near Upton upon Severn over the 2026 August Bank Holiday weekend, featuring JLS, Tony Hadley, The Proclaimers, The Fratellis and The Blockheads across five stages. The festival is portrayed as a multi-generational, community-oriented alternative to large city venues, supporting local businesses and giving rural audiences access to nationally recognised performers alongside emerging and local talent.