BOOK lovers in Malvern have good reason to be grateful to the group of enthusiasts who have kept the town well supplied with literary delights.

The Malvern Book Co-operative, settled in its distinctive property in St Ann's Road, next to the Red Lion, has now been in business for three years and business is booming.

The co-op was founded by a team of five - Helen Barker, Susan Raine, Sarah Creber and Dan and Mary Herbert, following the closure of Beacon Books in Worcester Road.

Mrs Barker said: "We all love books and reading, and we felt that losing Beacon Books left a real gap in the market. Of course, we recognised that things were changing in the world of bookselling, mainly the impact of the online sellers, but we still felt that there was room for a bookshop in Malvern."

A search for a suitable property saw the bookshop open its doors just off one of Malvern's main thoroughfares, in a unit which at various times in the past has been an art gallery and a delicatessen.

And since then, the co-op has gone from strength to strength.

"We have a wide range of stock, was can order anything and usually get it within 24 hours, which is better than most of the online retailers, and we're all people who love reading books and talking about books," said Mrs Barker.

"And the shop includes a cafe as well , so you can sit down and have a cup of tea and a slice of home-made cake with your book."

The shop has become something of a cultural centre as well, hosting a variety of literary events and giving a home to two book clubs.

Mrs Baker said: "The events are well attended and range from quiz evenings to cookery demonstrations. We have talks on a wide range of topics, which have included the psychology of criminal behaviour, readings from Piers Plowman, and an account of a record-breaking round-the-world cycle trip."

The next event will be a get-together at 6am on Sunday, May 10, to hear the dawn chorus, and the next day, representatives of Malvern's new Buddhist temple will be giving a talk at 7.30pm.

Mrs Barker said: "We have a lot of loyal customers and supporters, and I think that vindicates our original decision to start up the co-op. Books and cakes - what's not to like?"