AUTHOR of the Narnia Chronicles CS Lewis will be commemorated in Great Malvern with a blue plaque on the Unicorn pub in the centre of the town.

The plaque will be put up by Malvern Civic Society to mark Lewis's connection with the pub and town.

The author of The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe and the other Narnia stories was an old boy of Malvern College and used to visit the town in later years with friends including JRR Tolkein, to walk in the hills. They often ended up at the Unicorn for a drink and to chat about their writing.

"Lewis used to come to Malvern to visit his old English master from Malvern College, George Sayer, and along with Tolkein they used to walk the hills," said Roger Sutton, of Malvern Civic Society.

The azure blue plaque, the first of its kind in Malvern, will be inscribed: "At this inn CS Lewis, 1893-1963, scholar and author of the Narnia Chronicles, met frequently with literary and hill walking friends."

Landlord at the Unicorn Chris Lush is pleased that the historical connection will be marked in this way.

"The pub is one of the oldest buildings in the town and has quite a history," he said. "CS Lewis and Tolkein both used to drink here. I don't think a lot of people are aware of it."

Mr Lush said he hoped the blue plaque and increased awareness of Malvern's connection with CS Lewis would help bring more tourists to the town.

The Unicorn itself is a listed building and a planning application for the plaque has been submitted to the district council.

Malvern Civic Society plans to put up similar plaques on other buildings in Malvern that have important historical associations.

Aldwyn Tower, where former US president FD Roosevelt convalesced as a boy, will also get a plaque, as will Barnards Green House, once the home of Charles Hastings, founder of the British Medical Association.