A BONFIRE and naming ceremony organised by the Malvern Hills Conservators to mark the Jubilee both went off exactly as planned.

Around 100 people turned out at 11am on Saturday morning on the peak now known as Jubilee Hill to see it named by Conservators' chairman Rich-ard Graves.

"Richard Graves gave a brief speech and formally named the unnamed hill," said Conser-vator John Tretheway, "We called out three cheers for Her Majesty the Queen."

He described the event as "a really happy, perfect Malvern occasion" and added that the organisation would now look at finding a suitable site for a plaque noting the occasion.

Officers and volunteers started work on the Jubilee Beacon bonfire on top of the Worc-estershire Beacon at dawn on Monday.

Fierce rain did not deter them from finishing the task at around 11am and by the time 2,500 people climbed the hill in the evening to watch the bonfire being lit the weather had improved.

Mr Tretheway said Mr Graves lit the bonfire at 10pm, before a lusty rendition of the National Anthem and three cheers for the Queen.

Fears raised by firefighters mindful of April's fire on North Hill proved unfounded as despite a westerly wind the bonfire collapsed in on itself as planned.

"Maybe I'm biased," said Mr Tretheway, "but I think we must have had one of the best Beacons in the area, because when I left at midnight it was still going strong."

He paid tribute to Conserv-ators director Ian Rowat, director of operations Paul Saunder and all the staff and volunteers who helped on the day.

He also thanked the emergency services, who were standing by, and the people of Malvern, whom he said dropped very little litter on the hill.