AN alliance of businesses from the Malvern area is offering a combined holiday package designed to tempt walkers to visit throughout the autumn months.

The Foley Arms, Colwall Park Hotel and the Cottage in the Wood have got together with hiking shop Malvern Outdoors and Boots the chemist in Malvern to offer short break deals.

This comprises at least two nights' stay in one of the hotels and entitles the buyer to 30 per cent discount off Karrimor clothing and equipment at Malvern Outdoors.

Walkers who visit the town as part of the scheme will also get a pack of luxury cooling foot gel with mint, arnica and witch hazel from Boots. They also get a packed lunch from the hotels along with the loan of a special knapsack with built-in insulated compartment in preparation for a day's walking.

Iain Nesbitt, of the Colwall Park Hotel, said the initiative was part of an ongoing scheme to attract attention from the national press, in order to make people aware of how nice walking in Malvern can be in autumn.

He said the three hotels taking part were all hit badly during foot and mouth crisis and although trade has picked up since, they would still like more people to come to the area.

"A lot of people are not aware of how beautiful Malvern is during the autumn, so we're trying to attract people who want to come here for a stroll rather than a hike," he said.

Paul Ferguson, of Malvern Outdoors, said: "We think it's a great idea.

"By pooling our resources and offering the customer something different we hope that they will take up the idea and come back to Malvern for a holiday."