J B Priestley's An Inspector Calls is being performed at Malvern Theatres next week - just about 50 years after the author himself visited Malvern.

He was taking part in the town's first ever literary festival, which was held in the last week of April, 1953.

At one of the festival's events, Mr Priestley denounced the effect of television on literature, describing it as "parasitic". In the last two or three years, he said, the sale of books and attendances at films and theatres had gone down.

"People will tell you they have saved money by buying a TV set - they pay less than 6d a month for the entertainment that comes out of that set."

Children, he added, were brought up with a very developed visual sense but with no appreciation of the magic of the written word.

"I'm not a killjoy but it is a complete world of new culture that is being carefully fed, maintained, and encouraged by people to make money out of it."

Mr Priestley also said conditions for young writers were getting more difficult, specifically citing the increased costs of beer, whisky and tobacco.