THE history of an historic Worcester road has been uncovered after road workers discovered a series of cellars hidden underneath people's feet.

The cavities, dubbed 'the secret cellars' by residents, were found underneath the pavement in York Place and were thought to have been previously used as coal bunkers, soft water storage tanks and possibly even a cold storage for a grocery shop.

Workers are now wondering what they may discover under the rest of the street, particularly near to three homes that used to be a pub.

Ringway workers discovered the three cellars which were protruding from the existing houses underneath the original pavement in York Place.

The old pavement is being excavated as part of a project to replace it with a new conservation pavement and kerbs.

Two of the disused cellars were found in front of the home of Graham and Marjorie Hill, who said they knew of the existence of one, which had once been an old toilet they had bricked up.

However, they had were unaware of the other hole, thought to be a water tank, hidden outside the front of their home.

Mrs Hill said: "We went out and we came home and Graham was parking the car and he said I think there's something happening outside our house because there were six very bewildered men looking at it."

Mr Hill said the couple had lived in the house for more than 50 years.

He said: "We had some work done a few years ago and the fella was intrigued by what was there.

"He knocked a hole through and there was an old tap.

"We think that was the water supply.

"We had a wall built up inside to cover it up."

He added: "They also found one outside number 15.

"We think it may have been an early cold storage.

"You could lift it up and get into it.

"It was a grocery shop for many years and before that a dressmakers.

"Over the road there was a pub which was turned into three houses.

"These cellars go out under the road so what they find down there is anybody's guess."

Mr Hill said York Place was not built as one street, but had been created over many years as more homes were added.

He said the workers, who have now covered the cellars with concrete lintels, had done a good job on the pavement which had been in a bad state for some years.

Jon Fraser, head of highways at Worcestershire County Council, said the work had not unearthed any hidden, historical treasures but it had been an interesting project.