BEWDLEY'S last petrol station could remain in the town after an interested buyer came forward.

Texaco, which earlier this month said it would shut the Kidderminster Road petrol station next Thursday, said negations were taking place.

A spokesman explained: "We are in discussions with a prospective buyer who plans to maintain the site as a service station.

"These talks are ongoing but we hope that they will be successfully completed shortly."

Bob Bromley, president of the Bewdley Chamber of Trade, said he hoped the deal would go ahead.

He added: "I don't want to see it go and I'm sure that most of the traders don't. It is essential, really. The nearest one is Kidderminster and, from a Bewdley point of view, the nearest one the other way is Highley."

Town councillor, Tony Williams, led calls for the station to remain open.

He said: "It would be sad to see something which has served the people of Bewdley for a long time go.

"If it closes, it is going to put on a six-mile roundtrip just to put some petrol in your car."