PERMISSION has been granted for a former city pub to be turned in to a convenience store.

On Wednesday approval was given to Punch Taverns to make 'minor alterations' to the former Lakes pub on Ambleside Drive.

Refurbishment and alterations, including the installation of a new shop front, have started to be made to the former pub, which closed its doors last August.

The pub — which first opened when the estate was built in the 1960s — has been boarded up since then.

Your Worcester News first reported on the plans in November last year, and at the time locals said they thought there were "enough shops in the area".

Natu Patel, who runs the nearby Ambleside News with wife Hansa, said: "I think it's a ludicrous idea. Whoever is looking to run the store fails to realise how damaging this will be to the area," he said.

"On top of the fact that we have many shops around here already, the increase in traffic brought by another convenience store on an already busy and dangerous road will be awful.

"It's wonderful here and we love it. We have had our shop here for 26 years and if we hadn't been serving the community properly then we wouldn't be here still."

At a Worcester City Council planning committee held in December, Councillor Jo Hodges lamented the pub's loss.

She said: "I really regret its loss, it dates back to the 1960s and in fact Tom Jones performed there before he was famous.

"It's another gathering place, a place where people can celebrate anniversaries and special events, gone.

"There is a large community around there who need somewhere to gather — it's a very sad occasion."

A Punch Taverns spokesperson said: "We can confirm that we are in advanced negotiations with a regional food retailer to lease the property and operate it as a store.

"However, we are not yet in a position to be able to confirm who this is."