A BID for £1 million of lottery funding aimed at transforming a Worcester park has been rejected, it has emerged.

The city council had made an application to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to revamp Fort Royal Park, which is known as one of the key sites of the English Civil War.

It had asked for around £1 million towards a raft of improvements, including a play trail to reflect the historic nature of the land and a pedestrian crossing so people walking in Wyld’s Lane can access it easier.

But the bid has been turned down, leaving bosses to draw up an alternative plan for the site.

A spokesman said: “We are very disappointed to have been told by the Heritage Lottery Fund that our bid for funding improvements to Fort Royal Park has been unsuccessful.

“Staff, councillors, partner organisations and the Friends of Fort Royal group had worked very hard on putting together a widely supported bid, and we are naturally disappointed that HLF have been unable to support us at this time.

“Worcester Porcelain Museum’s recent successful bid - plus our own £1.8 million project to revamp Gheluvelt Park three years ago - mean that the city has had considerable support from HLF and we respect their decision to award funding to another project on this occasion.”

The council had already pledged £200,000 of taxpayers money to add to the kitty, and says the cash will now be put towards a new project for the park.

The park’s links with the 1651 Battle of Worcester, the last major battle of the English Civil War, will still form part of a new scheme.

Some of the other improvements included restoring boundary walls, new flowering, a viewing point and telescope.

Last month Worcester Porcelain Museum was handed an £88,000 HLF grant to develop plans for an eventual £1 million refurbishment.