IT’S Freshers week.

That time of year when you find yourself stumbling over new University students staring up at you in wide-eyed wonder.

Some will be local of course, but many more will have been brought to the city by parents, dropped off into our midst and left to it.

How scary. So, by way of welcome, this is the essentials things our new arrivals need to know.

1. We aren’t usually this active

You woke up on your first day in Worcester to find the streets thronged with runners for the city’s 10k and half marathon races. Sorry, but this is not your average weekend.

That said, we do have two parkruns in the city, plus a basketball team which meets at your own arena, rowers who brave the elements - and the claim to fame of having one of the prettiest cricket grounds in the world.

And, at some point you’ll probably hear the chant - Come on You Warriors - the war cry for Worcester’s rugby team.

Just don’t mention football. That’s a sore point.

2. Not everybody likes your library

Don’t get us wrong, it’s a great place.

It was Europe’s first joint public and University library and last year it attracted more than 700,000 visitors.

We are very proud of it. It’s just if it were to win a medal, it would be a gold medal. A very gold medal. And some of us like that about it and some of us don’t.

3. People are mean about our crisps

Heard of the Walkers campaign threatening to get rid of some of its well-established flavours? Some people have suggested Worcestershire Sauce flavour should go instead.

We hope that’s not you because Lea and Perrins were here first.

4. We talk about Butts

We aren’t being rude. There really is a road in Worcester called The Butts.

Nobody seems to know why.

And if someone asks you the way to the village in the city, they mean St John’s which, confusingly, is not a village. Sorry.

5. We need to talk about Elgar

The High Street’s statue of Edward Elgar is one, pointing no fingers, that some people like.

They hang around him - and leave presents like a traffic cone on his head or swimming goggles on his face.

We don’t mind too much but he’s recently had a face-lift so be nice, ok?

6. You'll like it!

There's no doubt, wherever you lay your hat next, you won’t regret the time you called Worcester home.