MORE than 1,000 people attended a festival to celebrate the historic role of water in the town’s history.

The Great Malvern Water Festival took place from Friday, April 28, to Monday, May 1.

The festival included a health and wellbeing fair, which involved 28 exhibitors; an arts and food market, and minibus tours of decorated local wells.

There was also a theatre show in an aluminium whale, a flash mob, a water music workshop and other activities, as part of Big Splash Monday, in Priory Park.

Simon Smith, economic development manager at Malvern Hills District Council, said: “We are delighted that this year’s well dressing and water festival was another huge success.

“It was great to see so many people enjoying the celebrations and the colourful dressed wells.

“The festival is also an excellent opportunity to celebrate the history and heritage of Malvern, and we look forward to supporting the event in the future.”

Dilys Watson, events coordinator for Malvern Town Council, said the health and wellbeing fair was so successful they hope to expand it next year.

“We had a really good turnout and it was consistently busy throughout the day,” she said.

“Exhibitors gave up their time to come and offer therapies, advice and guidance. I’ve received brilliant feedback both from exhibitors and attendees.

“There was a really wide range of things on offer - from Freedom Leisure’s exercise machines through to massages, Reiki, and Shiatsu [forms of alternative medicine].

“A large group of the public joined in for a Zumba lesson with Stella, Yoga with Kat, and cooking with Our Lizzy.”

There was also a procession of donkeys in the town in recognition of the historic role they played carrying people up to the springs.

Malvern Spa Association organised the well dressing event while the town council set up the health and wellbeing fair and the district council were in charge of Big Splash Monday.