PLANS to convert a car showroom on the edge of Malvern Link into a country superstore came a step closer this week.

Malvern Hills District Council's southern area planning committee agreed to back an application by John Brook to change the use of the BH Motors showroom and workshop off the Worcester Road/Townsend Road roundabout.

He now intends to lease the property to the Worcester-based chain Countrywide (formerly MSF), which already has edge-of-town stores in Ledbury and Upton.

Planning officers had originally recommended that the application be refused, but councillors voted 12-7 to support the plan.

Mr Brook said after the meeting: "It's a victory for common sense and I'm very grateful to the councillors for that. I cannot see the difference between using the site to retail vehicles and using it to retail anything else."

Mr Brook has decided to concentrate on his Brookhire vehicle hire business, based in Spring Lane.

Countrywide sells farming, livestock, equestrian and gardening supplies. It has 34 stores nationwide.

The proposed Malvern store will create up to ten jobs and could be open in a matter of weeks.