THE smell of fresh coffee is to add flavour to the Malvern Hills experience.

Malvern Hills Conservators this week approved a plan to provide coffee stalls at six sites on the hills, adding to the existing ice cream stands.

The decision follows a request from a Hereford coffee company to tender for the position.

Ian Rowat, director of the Conservators, said he was mindful of setting up stalls where they might be in competition with other businesses, such as the Kettle Sings.

"I'm trying to protect local businesses but this might be what is needed to get people back to other areas of the hills," he said.

The locations will be advertised in February and the first cups of coffee will served around Easter.