A call has gone out to local businesses to get involved in an event celebrating the region's food.

Adrian Ward, proprietor of Robson Ward Kitchens on Belle Vue Terrace, wants to stage an event to celebrate local produce alongside the Autumn in Malvern festival.

He is appealing for businesses and individuals to come forward and help.

The event is likely to take place on the weekend of September 20 and 21.

In previous years, the festival has taken a particular country as a theme and contrasted its music with that of English composers.

Organisers of previous food events have followed suit, using the chosen country as inspiration. When Austria was the chosen country for the music festival, a dry ski slope was created in Church Street as part of the food event.

However, in a departure from the normal format the theme for this year's Autumn in Malvern festival will be Prokofiev and Bach.

Peter Smith, artistic director of the festival, said this year was the 50th anniversary of the death of Prokofiev and that his son, Oleg, who lived in Britain, was a patron of the festival during his lifetime.

Highlights will include the Martinu String Quartet, from Prague, playing the composer's second quartet and the rarely heard piano quintet by Frank Bridge.

There will also be a performance of a baroque concerto series by the Feinstein Ensemble at Malvern College. A complete programme will be published in July.

Mr Smith suggested possible culinary links to Prokofiev could include traditional Russian dishes.

Anyone wishing to get involved with the food festival, should contact Mr Ward on 01684 563577.