WEST Malvern will be turned into a giant community gallery in three weeks' time, when the village plays host to its first-ever arts festival.

The festival is being held in support of the Malvern Hills Community Foundation, a project founded by Laurie Gregory of West Malvern in 2008, which has the ambitious aim of raising an endowment of £10 million.

This will be invested with the aim of providing funding for deserving individuals and organisations in and around Malvern.

The festival is running from Friday, August 20 to Sunday, August 22, and local organisations and residents have provided a variety of venues, including the Elim College, St James's Church, the primary school and the Brewers Arms.

Local garages, gazebos, and even garden walls and railings are also being pressed into service to display more artworks.

Entry is free for the festival, which is open each day between 11 am and 6pm, and it is hoped that about 50 artists will be showing and selling their work.

Those hoping to attend so far include painters, a plate artist, sculptor, photographers, a weaver, silversmith and many more. A facepainter will also be at the school for the children.

Refreshments will be available at several venues along route, and the Brewers Arms will be doing a barbecue at 4pm on Saturday and Sunday.

The idea is based on a festival in a village in Normandy which has been successfully running for several years. It is hoped to make the festival an annual event.