MALVERN has been ranked in the top 10 percent of heritage spots in the UK it has been revealed.

Out of 325 local authority areas, the Malvern Hills area has been placed 32nd by experts for the heritage it has to offer- and how people are encouraged to engage with the spots.

The online database has been compiled by the RSA and The Heritage Lottery Fund, and looks at indicators such as a place's heritage themed events, areas of natural beauty, parks and open space.

Visitor numbers, volunteering, school trips and industrial heritage were also factors in placing Malvern so high, as it was calculated how best the area makes use of its heritage.

It certainly has much to offer for visitors with the Malvern Hills, Malvern Theatres and Priory Park and Victoria Park.

When it comes to the town's industrial heritage, QinetiQ and Morgan Cars were also factors in its ranking.

Dudley Brook, chairman of Malvern Civic Society, says he is delighted with the result.

"I am delighted with the result.

"We have been steadily pushing throughout the years to protect Malvern's beauty spots and its heritage, so to hear this result is great news and shows our work has paid off.

"It also helps raise the profile of Malvern.

"People that live in the area know how beautiful this place is, but if people see these results and have never been here, it may encourage them to come.

"There is a lot going on here, but we can't take anything for granted. We must continue to push this area forward” he said.

Morgan Cars says its factory and the town are just as much as part of each other.

James Gilbert of Morgan said: "We’ve been in Malvern for 106 years and on this site for 101 years. We’re the only family-owned car manufacturer left in the world, and Malvern is as much part of Morgan as Morgan is part of Malvern.

"Almost all our workforce are from Malvern, and we have people whose fathers and grandfathers worked here. We wouldn’t dream of being anywhere else."

The top five is made up of Hastings, Cambridge, Scarborough, Kensington and Chelsea and City of London (in reverse order).