A FORMER Mayor of Worcester has revealed his opposition to the city's football club moving to Perdiswell - and says everyone is "ignoring" a possible solution.

Councillor Gareth Jones wants the club's supporters' trust to "seriously look" at building a stadium at Sixways, next to the home of Worcester Warriors.

He says with an existing park and ride serving the rugby stadium, acres of empty land and the M5 on the doorstep, he "cannot believe" it has not been mentioned before.

It comes as campaigners protesting against a planning application to build a new ground at Perdiswell have gained 600 signatures from nearby residents.

Cllr Jones, a veteran Conservative, says the Perdiswell fields are a vital asset for the community and wants it protected.

The football club is currently exiled at Kidderminster FC's Aggborough stadium after leaving St George's Lane last year, and the supporters' trust has submitted the application for a 4,100 capacity ground.

The club has examined the possibility of actually ground sharing Sixways with Worcester Warriors, but the idea was never considered realistic as it is currently designated a rugby-only facility by the sport's authorities.

But the suggestion that the football club's trust should look at the wider Sixways landscape is an entirely new one which has not been raised before.

Cllr Jones said: "I can't believe it hasn't been mentioned before - to me it looks like the ideal solution.

"I've nothing against the club and everyone wants to see them back in Worcester but the principle of building it at Perdiswell is something I can't accept.

"If you look at Sixways all the facilities are already there, there is the park and ride, the M5, the roads, bags of space to build the stadium and lots of parking.

"There is plenty of land which is all open space. It seems logical, so why not?

"We all want to see the club back but in my view, that's where they should go."

He says the response to a residents' petition shows the strength of feeling against the Perdiswell application.

Resident Lesley Mettrick, of Drovers Way, revealed yesterday that the signatures have topped 600 in just one month.

She has helped form the 'Protect Perdiswell' action group on Facebook to drum up opposition.

"I think we can get more, we'll carry on with it," she said.

Rob Crean, secretary of Worcester City FC Supporters' Trust, said: "Lots of questions people have will be answered in the application.

"We're quite confident people's concerns will be addressed."

The plans include one main 500-seat stand, a standing terrace, 3G pitch, three full-size grass pitches, two nine aside fields, conference and classroom facilities.