A 'one-stop-shop' for healthcare in Upton has been given the go-ahead by planners.

The centre, at Tunnel Hill, will house a doctor's surgery, optician, dispensary, child health centre and physiotherapy centre.

Malvern Hills District Council's southern area planning committee approved the application, from Dr George Wilson and his colleagues at the existing Upton Surgery, during a meeting on Wednesday night.

The application had previously been deferred to allow members to visit the site.

Dr Wilson said: "We have got a need for a one-stop shop in Upton and this is supported by the NHS and also by Defra.

"We have consulted all the staff and have had two consultations with the public in the Memorial Hall. Now we must hurry plans along."

Sites had previously been looked at near Rectory Road and Holly Green but the Tunnel Hill site was considered to be more suitable.

Developers will have to install a cycle path from Old Street to the centre, a pedestrian crossing at the bottom of Minge Lane and improved signage to the surgery. A working party has been set up to look at these issues.

The risk of flooding in the staff car park at the centre was described as minimal.

Coun John Raine said the development would not be in keeping with local plan policies, as the site lies outside the boundaries laid out for the town. He said: "We can try to be helpful, but should we go so far as to breach our own land use policies?"

"At the end of the day there is not sufficient need to rush this and do damage to our own policies."

But Upton councillor Mary Wilkinson said that the centre could not be put off any longer and added: "Our doctors have been marvellous to us for years and now it is time we supported them."