MALVERN'S history with prolific author CS Lewis is being celebrated with a series of events over a week and at Saturday's Great Malvern Christmas Festival.

Clive Staples Lewis was born 125 years ago on November 29 1898 in Belfast before heading to England for his studies at the preparatory school Cherbourg House and Malvern College.

His time around Malvern, in particular the gas lamps and landscape, helped inspire his creation The Chronicles of Narnia which started with the best-known book The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.

Malvern Hills District Council is teaming up with local artists' group Creatives Connect Malvern to deliver the CS Lewis 125 Shop Window Art Trail which marks the anniversary of the acclaimed author's birth.

Councillor Beverley Nielsen, portfolio holder for tourism and economic development at the council, said: “I cannot wait to see the wonder and magic of Narnia come to life in Great Malvern.

"We are so lucky to have such a rich history and connections to so many much-loved literary figures."

Shops and businesses involved across the Malvern district received a stencil of a gas lamp to be displayed in their window from Friday, November 24 until Thursday, November 30, creating a decorative display to commemorate CS Lewis.

Between the same dates, people can take the Narnia-themed gas lamp trail around Great Malvern and discover the tale of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.

And the much-anticipated Great Malvern Christmas Festival on Saturday, November 25, which starts at 10am and runs into the evening, will have Narnia-themed activities.

There will be a lantern parade, lion face painting at the Mount Pleasant Hotel, storytelling, arts and crafts and a colouring table and a Malvern Hills literary walk entitled the Lewis Loop.

Lecturer and tour guide Dan Johnson leads the circular walk, taking in spots connected to CS Lewis, at 11am.

It starts and ends at the Wyche Cutting, heading to the Worcestershire Beacon summit before following the gas lamps past St Ann’s Well Cafe and CS Lewis' and JRR Tolkien’s regular pub The Unicorn.

After stops at Great Malvern Priory, with the original gas lamp, and Malvern College, the loop returns south.

Cllr Nielsen added: "The Christmas Festival is a perfect way to celebrate what would have been CS Lewis’ 125th birthday and it will be a great opportunity for residents and visitors alike to enjoy a whole host of festive activities."