MALVERN Hills Youth Hostel is open for business and keen to reassure visitors that there is still plenty to do in the area.

More than 100 hostels in farming areas have had to close because of foot and mouth but the Malvern hostel, in Peachfield Road, is still open.

Manager Andy Reynolds said visitors could enjoy going to places such as Cadbury's World, Malvern Priory, the Elgar Museum, Severn Valley Railway, Royal Worcester Porcelain, Ledbury and Upton-upon-Severn.

"People who were coming here specifically to walk on the hills are tending to postpone their visit but apart from that it's business pretty much as usual," he said.

"We are getting a lot of families who use us as a base to explore local attractions."

The Youth Hostel Association is losing an estimated £2 million because of the foot and mouth crisis but chief executive Roger Clarke said guests staying in youth hostels over the Easter period would have the advantage of less crowded roads and discounts at attractions.