A CLEAN, green Worcester was the theme of a visit to a Worcester environment centre by the shadow minister for environment and transport.

Conservative MP Tim Yeo paid a visit to The Pump House Environment Centre in Lyttleton Street, Barbourne, with Worcester's Tory prospective parliamentary candidate Margaret Harper.

"This is a really interesting project and is an excellent example of partnership between the local authority and the voluntary sector," said Mr Yeo.

Mr Yeo and Mrs Harper were given a guided tour of the centre before meeting a group of youngsters taking part in a willow-weaving session.

The centre was set up with the help of the Duckworth Worcestershire Trust, Worcester City Council and the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers with the purpose of raising awareness about environmental issues and training volunteers and local community groups to become involved with green issues.

Mr Yeo, who revealed Cecil Duckworth, founder of the Duckworth Trust, was "an old personal friend", said that environmental issues were priority for the Conservative in the forthcoming election.