MALVERN'S annual celebration of its springs and wells is all set to be the most spectacular event ever staged in the town.

Some new features are being included in the well-dressing weekend this year and a record number of entries - 32 - have already been received for the well-dressing competition alone.

Dr John Harcup, chairman of Malvern Spa Association, which organises the event, said: "I am very pleased with the way it has all come together. There is a lot of enthusiasm, which is great. People seem to be more enthusiastic than ever and there are more things going on. I am looking forward to it."

The event runs from tomorrow until Tuesday, May 6 - a day longer than in previous years to allow more people to enjoy visiting the dressed well, which is being sponsored by Waitrose.

Teams and individuals will dress their wells on Friday morning and the judges will go round them all from 3pm that day.

This year's theme is Malvern water and it marks the 300th anniversary of the birth of Dr John Wall, who analysed water from the hills and found it had a very low mineral content.

He is famously quoted as saying: "Malvern water is famous for containing just nothing at all."

Presentations of certificates and rosettes to the well-dressing winners will take place in Priory Park at 1pm on Saturday by Malvern Hills Conservators director Ian Rowat when the spa association takes part in Malvern's Fringe Festival.

The group will have a stand showing its recent refurbishment work of various springs and wells and will have its usual water tasting competition when people can try to identify the different spring waters and a sample of tap water.

New for this year will be an inter-faith thanksgiving service at St Ann's Well at 11am on Saturday, prayers of thanksgiving for the gift of water in various churches throughout Malvern on Sunday, and a pilgrimage from the theatre steps in Priory Park starting at 10.30 am on Sunday to various points on the hills giving an insight into the landscape and Malvern water.

Entry is free-of-charge and there will be guided minibus tours of the dressed wells on Monday starting from Rosebank Gardens bus stop at 11am and 2.30pm.

Tickets cost £5 and are available from the tourist information office in Church Street. .