IT WAS a birthday gift unlike no other from a doting grandmother to her grandson - the royalties from the show The Mousetrap.

And as it comes to Festival Theatre, Malvern from Monday, October 13, Mathew Pritchard CBE has spoken of the unique present given to him by his famous grandmother Agatha Christie.

The show is now celebrating its 60th year and, after being handed the royalties for his ninth birthday, Mathew has donated them to the benefit of charities for the arts and other causes especially in Wales in recent years.

Mathew, chairman of Agatha Christie Ltd, said: "I do not, I’m afraid, remember much about the actual presentation (if there was one) and probably nobody realised until much later what a marvellous present it was, but it is perhaps worth remembering that my grandmother had been through many times in her life when money was not plentiful.

"It was therefore incredibly generous of her to give away such a play to her grandson, as in 1952 her books were only approaching the enormous success they have now become.

"It is also a mistake to think of her generosity only in terms of money.

"She loved giving pleasure to others – good food, a holiday, a present, or a birthday ode.

"She loved enjoying herself, and also to see others around her enjoying themselves."

The Mousetrap will run at Malvern until Saturday, October 18 with shows at 7.30pm as well as a 2.30pm matinee on Wednesday and Saturday.

Tickets are available by calling 01684 892277 or by logging on to malvern-theatres.co.uk.