THE RICH history of Bury St Edmunds will be revealed during free guided walks during English Tourism Week which is from this Saturday until March 24.

Know Your Town guided tours, starting at the Tourist Information Centre (TIC) in Angel Hill, are this Saturday and the following Saturday at 2pm.

Sharon Fairweather, tourism officer for St Edmundsbury Borough Council, said the idea was for people to learn more about what is on their doorstep and to promote the town tours ahead of the summer. Walkers will receive a free goody bag and there will be offers in the TIC shop.

Mike Dean, who has been a town guide for more than 12 years, shared interesting facts about well-known sites in the town when he took the East Anglian Daily Times on a taster tour on Monday. The coat of arms on the building housing the town council offices in Angel Hill reveals more about the history of Bury than people may realise and the huge Abbey Church, which once stood at the Abbey Gardens site, was longer than Norwich Cathedral.

“It was massive and St Edmund was patron saint of this country so kings and queens came here because they got their power from God,” Mr Dean said. To book a tour call the TIC on 01284 764667. Afternoon tea guided walks are taking place in May and June.