WORK to enhance one of the most popular beauty spots on the Malvern Hills began this week.

The long-anticipated project at St Ann's Well is intended to restore the gardens, the pond and the terraces to their Victorian splendour.

David Armitage of the Malvern Hills Area of Outstanding National Beauty said: "It will not be an exact recreation of the well in Victorian times, because the Victorians tolerated some things that today's health and safety rules do not tolerate, but it will be close."

He said the old appearance of the well was researched in the Malvern Hills Conservators' archives and people came forward with their memories of the well at exhibitions held earlier this year.

Work will include restoration of a cascade to the right of the door leading to the spring room, repairs to stonework of the terraces, new benches for the terraces and restoration of the pond and stream in front of the building.

Once the hard landscaping is finished, work will begin on replanting the area with a mixture of plants suitable for the Victorian era.

"The contract is for three months, and we hope the hard landscaping work will be finished after two," said Mr Armitage.

The St Ann's Well restoration is just part of a major project to revitalise Malvern's water features.

Work will also be carried out this winter on the Clock Tower in North Malvern Road, which contains a water source, on the Hayslad and Westminster Bank springs, West Malvern, and Lord Sandys Spout, Spring Lane.