THE 23rd annual Autumn in Malvern Festival has been hailed a big success – and its organiser is already turning his thoughts to next year.

The month-long festival, billed as a celebration of the arts and Malvern’s rich history, saw a variety of musicians, poets, writers, film-makers and other artists visit the town to perform throughout October.

As the dust settles on a packed schedule of events, artistic director Peter Smith said he was delighted with how everything turned out.

“Despite the economic downturn there have been good audiences, with four events sold out and others very near capacity,”

he said.

“People do like the idiosyncratic nature of the festival and the programme content.

“For almost a quarter of a century, the festival has featured the many noteable poets, writers, artists and musicians connected with the Malvern Hills and countryside.”

This year’s flagship event was a performance by the London Concertante entitled An English Idyll – a nod to the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

Mr Smith said this was a big success. “It was attended by civic and government dignitaries, all of whom paid tribute to the distinguished track record of the festival and its very particular identity,” he said.

Mr Smith has already started planning for next year’s festival, which will focus on the life and works of Benjamin Britten and WH Auden, two famous composers who both had connections with Malvern and Colwall.