A GROUP set up to oppose plans to build a cable car up the side of the Malvern Hills is holding its first one-day conference next month.

Understanding the Malvern Hills is the first formal event organised by Voice of the Malvern Hills, which was founded by town resident Richard Edwards.

He created the group earlier this year in response to Malvern For All, which has been promotion its cable-car scheme vigorously.

He said: "It was always my intention that Voice of the Malvern Hills would be more than just an anti-cable-car group, but would help people understand all aspects of the hills. This is the thinking behind this conference.

"The idea is to make people value the special qualities of the hills , many of which will be spoiled by a cable car.

"We hope that the range of talks and expert speakers will provide those attending the event with a greater sympathy for and knowledge and understanding of the Malvern Hills.

"We hope that this knowledge, sympathy and understanding will galvanise more people into taking action to care for, conserve and communicate about the incredible landscape of the Malvern Hills."

Among the speakers, many of them well-known locally, are Dick Bryant, trustee and director of projects at the Earth Heritage Trust, who will talk about the ice ages, and how they affected the hills and the wider landforms of Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

Kate Andrew, project manager of the Earth Heritage Trust, is another participant, and her talk will cover 1,000 years of building in the Malvern area.

Symbols of Power in the Malvern Hills is the contribution of Tim Hoverd, the project manager at Herefordshire Council's archaeology service, while local naturalist Peter Garner will disclose the natural wonders of the hills.

Closing the conference will be Beck Baker, the community and conservation officer for Malvern Hills Conservators, who will talk about the board's work.

The event is on Sunday, November 1, at the Malvern Cube in Albert Road North. Registration opens at 9.30am and the conference starts at 10am and runs until 4pm.

Taking part costs £15 for members of voice of the Malvern Hills, £17 for non-members and £10 for students and under-18s. They are available in advance from the Cube and from the Conservators' office in Grange Road.