TESCO has opened negotiations with Worcester City Council about replacing Christopher Whitehead High School with a supermarket.

Mark Middleton, the council's head of planning and economic development, had been invited but was unable to attend the meeting.

The senior planning officer responsible for dealing with the Local Plan, Jim Pithouse, represented the council in his place.

"Tesco raised the issue of a supermarket and a replacement school," said Stuart McNidder, the director of development services.

"We believe there will be an application submitted at the end of August or early September.

"It's likely an exhibition would be held in St John's, rather like the one put on at the start of the year by Sainsbury's when the company was promoting its proposed Swanpool Walk store."

It was the first time Worcester's planners had talked with Tesco about the project, which could see a new school constructed at Grove Farm if plans for an industrial estate at the 35-acre piece of land come to nothing.

Malvern Hills District Council was also invited as the new nine-form-entry secondary school - likely to cost around £12m - might alternatively be built across the city boundary at Earl's Court Farm, west of Dines Green.

"There has been a meeting but we have lots of private meetings with developers," said David Murray, the head of development control at Malvern.

"I'm not sure I am at liberty to discuss what was said. We have not had a planning application.

"There is land between the edge of the built-up area and the district boundary. If Tesco submits an application for development at Grove Farm, Worcestershire County Council will consult with us as well as the city council."

The county council has been in talks for several months with Tesco about razing Christopher Whitehead.

Nobody from Tesco was available for comment.