A PRIVATE company run by two brothers from Pershore has taken over the outdoor education centre at Upton Warren, near Droitwich from Worcestershire County Council. A 20 acre lake alongside the A38 road offers a range of high quality water sports instruction in canoeing, kayaking, sailing, windsurfing and improvised rafting, while the remainder of the 40 acre site provides a number of land based activities such as climbing, ropes course, high poles course, a tunnel complex, team building challenges, camping, archery and a nature reserve. The centre has been officially handed over to Aztec Watersports, which is based in the village of Lower Moor and run by Craig and Mark Spence.

Councillor Liz Eyre, Worcestershire County Council's cabinet member for children and families, said: "I am delighted to be transferring Upton Warren Outdoor Education Centre to a Worcestershire organisation which is well suited to manage, organise and provide for the future of this centre of sporting excellence. This will ensure the local community and Worcestershire's children and young people will be able to benefit from these outdoor activities, right in the centre of the country, for years to come."

Aztec Watersports was established in 1993 and is now under the ownership of the Spence brothers, who specialise in a variety of water and land-based activities and work with a variety of local schools and different organisations. They said: "We are both very excited about the forthcoming transfer. This is a great success for both Aztec and Worcestershire County Council and for the future of the centre. We will be developing and rebranding the centre, introducing new activities and packages aimed at children, schools, organisations, families and other bodies. Worcestershire County Council has been extremely helpful and supportive throughout this transfer process, we are all looking forward to the forthcoming season, and welcome all to come and see us at the centre."