Saint's day marked across county

Shropshire became a sea of red and white today as patriotic residents celebrated St George's Day.

Dave Minshall from the Giant Party Shop, in Mardol, Shrewsbury Shropshire became a sea of red and white today as patriotic residents celebrated St George's Day.

The legendary story of how the saint bravely slayed a dragon was being re-enacted in Shropshire at Blist's Hill Victorian Town in Telford by the museum's troupe of travelling actors The Prince Albert Players.

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The tourist attraction is also hosting a sold-out music hall evening at its Forest Glen restaurant tonight where rousing patriotic songs like Land of Hope and Glory and Rule Britannia will top the bill.

Shropshire landlord John Ellison offered drinkers at his pub, The Crown in Oakengates, Telford, a number of special beers including 303AD - which marks the year St George was beheaded.

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St George is also the patron saint of the scouting movement and other countries including Portugal, Germany and Greece which were holding national celebrations.

As flags flew proudly from homes and businesses, Shrewsbury's Society of St George marked the day by handing out 1,000 miniature roses to shoppers in the town's Riverside, Pride Hill and Darwin Shopping Centres in aid of the Lingen Davies Cancer Centre Appeal.

Telford pubs marked the saint's day with traditional British food.

The Mallard in Brookside was offering a plate of faggots & peas, while The Duke of York in Oakengates, which was decorated with flags and bunting, was offering hot roast beef baps.

Landlord Ian Barton, who has recently taken over the pub again with partner Julie Albert, was planning to offer Bombardier beer to recognise Britain's fighting spirit and free hot dogs during the Manchester United v Barcelona Champions League semi-final tonight."It's great we've got an English team playing in this match on St George's Day," he said.

And the Crown Inn in Oakengates laid on beers commemorating the saint including By George and Spirit of St George.

Red roses were also handed out to restaurant customers at caravan company Salop Leisure, which also flew the national flag at its Shrewsbury base.

Churches and community groups also got into the spirit of celebration with the aptly named St George's Church in St Georges, Telford, planning a short service and cheese and wine reception at 7pm.

Hollinswood and Randlay Parish Council was planning a coffee morning at Hollinswood Neighbourhood Centre and an afternoon tea at Randlay Community Centre, which were both decorated for the occasion with flags and bunting.

Telford & Wrekin mayor Miles Hosken was due to judge a children's competition for poetry and art work - all with a St Georges Day theme - at the Randlay centre.

On Saturday, at 7.30pm, Hadley Methodist Church is holding a St George's Day concert featuring the Shropshire Male Chorus, Wrekin and Telford Choral Society and Brass Routes. Tickets are £4 or £10 for three and are available on the night or from (01952) 254809.

And scouts from across Shropshire will join the 1st Randlay Scout Group for the annual St George's Day Parade on Sunday. More than 300 scouts from Telford, Bridgnorth, Cleobury Mortimer and Ludlow will meet at Deercote in Hollinswood at 10.15am to parade to Hollinswood School for a service at 10.30am.

Stories about legend:

Myths and legends surround St George and nothing is known for certain about his life.

St George is believed to have been born in Turkey about 280AD.
The Golden Legend of St George describes how he defeated a dragon that was tormenting a village in Libya.
The dragon demanded human sacrifices and villagers agreed to draw lots to see who would be sent to the beast.
Eventually the king's daughter was chosen and the king was forced to agree to her death.
But St George heard of the village's plight and arrived on his white horse just in time to slay the dragon and save the daughter. He refused the king's reward and asked for it to be distributed among the poor.
St George became a Roman soldier and rose to a high rank but the Emperor Diocletian began to persecute the growing number of Christians in the empire.
Diocletian declared that all Christians would lose their citizenship and churches were to be burned.
St George tore down the emperor's edict. He was imprisoned and tortured but refused to renounce his faith. St George was beheaded in Lydda, Palestine.
The legend of St George grew in popularity during the Crusades. Some stories suggest he appeared to lead English soldiers into battle.
April 23, the day on which he is believed to have died, was named St George's Day in England in 1222. He was named the patron saint of England in 1415.
St George is also the patron saint of Catalonia, Georgia, Lithuania, Palestine, Portugal, Germany and Greece.