Birds take flight for well-dressing festival

A town has been decorated with elaborate and colourful bird displays as part of a festival that celebrates the water flowing from its wells.

The Malvern Water and Well Dressing Festival has seen about 52 wells in the spa town dressed up as part of this year's event, which began on Friday and ends on 10 May.

This year the theme is birds and displays include a huge owl with its head adorned with glowing fairy lights, fiery-feathered phoenixes and swooping seagulls hanging from bunting.

"People come from all over the world every year to see it, we raise the profile of Malvern, and it's wonderful," said Phil Ironside, one of the organisers.

He added that schools, organisations, individuals and other groups take part.

Last year more than 800 people were involved

The annual event is organised by the Malvern Spa Association and celebrates the history of the Malvern Hills, including its spring water and Victorian water cure.

"As long as you're celebrating water, you can make whatever you want," said Ironside of the displays.

"Their creations, some are very simple and beautiful and some are very very complicated and very complex.

"People spend months, they create all these extraordinary things."

Across the week, there is a calendar of events taking place as part of the celebrations.

They include well blessings, self-guided walks, maypole and Morris-dancing and crafts.

On Monday there will be a water festival family day, which will see live music, free activities and art.

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