Tumbling down and in a sad state of neglect, the Scarr Bandstand at Sling near Coleford, has enjoyed a remarkable transformation.

Thanks to the sterling efforts of a group of local people, both the bandstand and its attractive rural setting have been saved and look set to flourish for years to come.

Events planned to take place there this summer will be revealed at a meeting of the Friends of Scarr Bandstand to be held at Sling Club this Saturday (2p to 4.30pm). The Friends want anyone with an interest in music or theatre to turn up and find out what role they could play as a volunteer. They will be taken on a tour of the bandstand, learning something of its history, and discover what future plans the Friends have for the area – and there will be plenty of tea and cake.

A spokesman said: “It’s a unique facility in a beautiful setting. Thanks to the Landscape Partnership and the Heritage Lottery we have been able to save it and we must now make sure it flourishes way into the future. We need volunteers to make sure the dreams became reality.”

More information is available by contacting Alison Collison at [email protected]