PLANS for a driving training centre for people going to work in war zones were put on hold last week to allow councillors to inspect the site at Throckmorton's disused airfield.

A planning application at Long Lane has been submitted to Wychavon District Council by Malvern Technology Centre on behalf of London-based ArmorGroup.

The company, part of US-based Armor Holdings, which operates all over the globe, specialises in security. Its range of products includes ballistic resistant vests and tactical armour, anti-riot products and drugs identification kits.

The company also provides armour for vehicles ranging from limousines to money transport vans. Dave Abbot, a former soldier who would help get the Throckmorton driving school up and running on behalf of ArmorGroup, said: "We're planning to open a school that's going to prepare people for going to work in places of risk, for example, Iraq, Afghanistan and Angola."

The kind of people the specialist driving school would be intended for would range from foreign aid workers to journalists. Mr Abbot explained that driving in unstable territories in hostile terrain required much more highly developed skills than driving in the UK.

"You can imagine some young girl going off to Sudan and being given a Land Rover and never having driven it before," he said. "It's not just driving," he went on, "It's personal security, the security of the place you're working in, even your health and how to look after yourself in those places."

The application was due to be discussed by councillors last week but was deferred ahead of a site meeting due to take place next month.

The local councillor for the area, Malcolm Argyle, has expressed concern about the general nature of development on the site, fearing it could compromise the aim of turning it into a science park.