MYSTERY and intrigue came to town when a masked ball was held.

Guests donned their ball gowns and dinner jackets for the Malvern Carnival masked ball.

They dressed up and showed off their creative powers with a stunning variety of hand-crafted masks at the fund-raising event at the Abbey Hotel.

The ball was a great success, said organisers, raising – together with the previous week’s carnival procession – about £1,700 for Home-Start Malvern Hills, the charity which supports local families with young children.

Jane Knowles, of the carnival organising committee, said: “It was a wonderful evening with guests dressing up and donning masks. There was an auction, great raffle prizes and a paper airplane competition, then dancing to live bands.”

Malvern mayor Julian Roskams said: “It was a very enjoyable evening.”