THE Malvern Festival of Innovation is getting off to a good start, with its first event being held yesterday at the Theatre of Small Convenience in the town.

The world's smallest theatre hosted a series of short innovation talks from scientists, technologists, engineers, inventors and entrepreneurs from 11am to 2pm.

Festival founder Dr Adrian Burden said:"We'll be filming the talks so you can watch any you miss afterwards on our YouTube channel."

This was set to be followed by the official launch event at Malvern Collge, featuring award-winning scientist, writer and broadcaster Marcus Chown

Formerly a radio astronomer at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, where he studied under Nobel prizewinner Richard Feynman.

Today sees a schools outreach event at the Three Counties Showground, with young people able to listen to lectures, participate in hands-on workshops, and tour an extensive exhibition of organisations.

On Wednesday, the Coach House Theatre is the venue for two symposiums, one entitled The Business of Innovating, and the other Startup Stories

Thursday sees an all-day event at Malvern Theatres on cyber-security, concentrating on the needs of small and medium sized enterprises.

And Friday sees an event focusing on environment and sustainability, followed in the evening by the science and technology comedy night.

The festival comes to an end on Saturday with the free family day at Malvern Theatres, which includes hands-on exhibits showcasing some of the latest new things in the world of science and technology.

Speakers include Marty Jopson, the BBC One Show's resident scientist who will will take a journey into the realm of microscopical wonders.

And Scary Boots, described as a "rock‘n'roll loving doctor of physics", will be building 3D printers to produce shape-changing jelly.