A 100-year old Worcester business threatened with the bulldozer has been given a stay of execution after a city council row ended in deadlock.

Planners have decided to delay a decision on whether or not to recommend a compulsory purchase order on Coomber, in Croft Road, to make way for a new £50m super library.

Some planners want Coombers to be retained alongside a new library - while others feel it needs to go for the library to stand by itself.

The firm, which sells specialist educational equipment to schools all around the world, does not want to relocate and has traded at the current site since the 1960s.

Chairman of planning Robert Rowden said: "By demolishing a flourishing business and putting people out of work, we are not promoting the economic well- being of the area.

"It has been proved the library could be developed without getting rid of the Coomber factory, so therefore I question whether we need a compulsory purchase order."

The land on which Coombers stands has been identified as green space' alongside the library.

Worcester City Council has already said it is in negotiations with the firm to relocate elsewhere.

Coun Paul Denham, a member of the planning committee, said the reputation of a world class library would "be severely degraded" if a factory remained alongside it.

"To expect the library to look the part as an iconic building while sitting next to a boring 1960s building is laughable," he said.

"We all want negotiations to be successful so we don't need to have a compulsory purchase order, but it seems expedient we put the motions for one in place in case negotiations fail."

Coun Mike Layland contradicted him by saying : "I'm opposed to the principle of it.

"It's easy to talk, and say these people will be employed elsewhere, but Coombers are established where they are, it suits them to stay, and I think a compulsory purchase order is going over the top."

The council's planners decided to delay making a decision on whether or not to recommend a compulsory purchase order until it receives more advice from councillors.

Worcester solicitor David Hallmark, who is representing the owners of the factory, said the Coomber family wished to remain tight-lipped about the situation but added he would be talking with the council "to discuss the outcome" of its meeting.