TRADERS are invited to take part in a festive shop window dressing competition this year - but with a twist.

Shop owners are being asked by Malvern Town Council - who are working in partnership with the district council - to create window displays on a Christmas theme.

Malvern's mayor, cllr Neil Morton, said: "This is a fantastic new initiative and I’m very much looking forward to being part of the judging team.

"I do hope that many local residents will have a go at this year’s exciting new trail and help us to support the town.

"After a challenging and difficult year let’s try and make this Christmas a memorable one."

There will be an award for the best dressed window within each area judged by the leader of the district council and the mayor of Malvern.

An overall winner will also be judged online by the public.

A children’s Christmas trail competition will run from November 27 until the New Year.

There will be four trails, in each of four main areas of Malvern and each will be guided by a map. Children are tasked with spotting the Christmas letters hidden in the window displays of the shops taking part and to rearrange these letters to create a well know Christmas word or phrase. Entry is free and for every trail that is completed there will be an entry into a prize draw.

If children manage to complete all four trails and visit all of the shop windows, a Christmas present will be exchanged for the completed maps as well as the entries into the prize draw.