WORK is finally set to start on repairing a stretch of collapsed riverbank on the Severn in Worcester this summer a year after it fell down.

A wall holding up the bank by the Diglis House Hotel in Worcester collapsed after a storm at the end of June last year.

For the past eight months lawyers have been trying to establish the owner, with Worcestershire highways partnership manager for Worcester Andy Walford appointing consultants to discover why it collapsed.

However, now Severn Trent Water has agreed to take on the responsibility for the works and is due to carry it out this summer. It is not known how much it will cost or how long it will take.

Severn Trent spokeswoman Kate Cox said: "The work will involve strengthening the wall on the towpath. We're currently putting together the final designs and getting the appropriate planning permission from the different parties involved."

He added: "It's a bit of a shame it couldn't have been done earlier, before Easter, but it's understandable the work has to be done when the river's at its lowest which is generally during the summertime."

The news was cautiously welcomed by people who live in the area, who said it was long overdue.

Mary Richards, of Diglis Avenue, said: "All along the riverside is a tourist attraction and we get literally thousands of people from all over the world walking there.

"That collapsed wall with the fencing is absolutely awful - cosmetically it looks dreadful.

"Obviously, any news something is going to be done is very welcome."

Judy Thornborough, aged 66, also of Diglis Avenue, said: "It's about time - it's been there long enough. It's not on that something like should be left because all the time it's like that who knows what other damage is being caused?"

Colin Tutin, the manager of the Diglis House Hotel, previously blamed the problem on the fact that storm drains could not coping with the volume of water passing through them.

He said: "Nothing has happened yet and we just wish they'd get moving because there's a big crack that's now appeared and gone back to our wall.

"We just want to see it done because with the summer coming up there are barricades still down there and it doesn't look very good."