MORE than 50 water sources across Malvern will be decorated by schools, community groups and families when the annual well-dressing festival returns over the May Day bank holiday weekend.

This year's theme for the dressing is Year of the Woman, inspired by the centenary of women first being allowed to vote in the UK.

Emma Green, one of the well-dressers and a member of the organising committee, said: "I will be commemorating local Malvern resident and suffragette Elsie Howey in my dressing. I can’t wait to see what other people have created.”

The decorations, on springs, wells and other water features across the town and the hills, will all be in place by Saturday, May 5, when the judges will be making their rounds, awarding gold, silver and bronze rosettes for the best-dressed offerings.

The decorations will remain in place until the evening of Tuesday, May 8, when they will be taken down by their creators.

People wanting to view the well-dressers' creations should visit the Tourist Information Centre, Church Street, Great Malvern, where a map showing where to find the wells and a diary of the weekend's events will be available. Therte will also be minibus tours of the wells.

The winners will be announced at the Great Malvern Water Festival in Priory Park on Bank Holiday Monday.

There will be inflatable rides to enjoy such as a surf simulator, hook-a-duck, Sea World bounce ‘n’ slide and jungle run. Visitors can take a step inside a giant whale where they can enjoy live theatre shows and there will be music from Gersom Engels.

Heidi Wilson and Signature Steps Dance School will be performing maypole dancing, and there will also be a demonstration of water divining by Ced Jackson and a chance to try waster tasting with Malvern Spa Association.

Adventurers can take on the Xplorer Challenge as they hunt for clues around the park and there will be a soft play area for little ones.

Mayor Cynthia Palmer, has volunteered to be plunged into freezing water as part of a re-enactment of the water cure treatment, in aid of charity.

The event takes place between 10am and 4pm and admission is free.