Help solve museum murder mystery

Families are being invited to turn detective to solve a murder mystery scheduled to take place at Worcestershire County Museum at Hartlebury, near Kidderminster.

Visitors will be asked to join a cast of characters during the event on November 16 and to solve the mystery after watching set performances and interrogating the characters involved.

If they work out the "who-dunnit" mystery they will win a prize. The fictional murder mystery is this year being set around an actual visit made by Queen Elizabeth I to the Castle in 1575.

Rachel Robinson, county Visitor Services Officer, said: "People will get the chance to meet Bishop Bullingham and his wife who are playing host to the Queen of England who on her way to Worcester has chosen to break her journey to pass the night at Hartlebury Castle.

"During her stay the unthinkable has occurred and the body of Lady Emily Howard has been discovered and everyone but the Queen is a suspect.

"People will get the chance to quiz people about their motives and movements.

"These events are always very popular with visitors and are an unusual way of spending a day." The characters involved will be played by local professional actors, including Claire Worboys, from Bewdley, who has performed across the country in theatre tours as well as on television and film.

She will be joined by Richard Curnow and Jonathan Darby, who have both recently performed in the Christmas pantomime at the Swan Theatre.