RESIDENTS admit they are likely to lose their fight to have Hayslan field in Malvern designated as a village green.

The official decision on the ten-year battle is expected to be made public within days.

But residents say the independent public inquiry, upon which Worcestershire County Council has based its judgement, recommended that the land, behind Hayslan Avenue, should not be made into a village green.

The site has been at the centre of a dispute between residents, who fear that the land could be sold to developers, and owners Malvern Girls' College.

Pickersleigh Residents Group member Bob Morrison, who made the village green application, said he expects the council to rubber stamp the inquiry's recommendations.

"I'm very disappointed. But I suspected this would happen from what I heard during the hearing, it's not a total surprise," said Mr Morrison. "I came away from the hearing feeling ver depressed and I haven't changed my view.

"If development took place on the site it would be a tremendous loss for local people. That land has been open for every part of the community for a long, long time."

He added January's inquiry found the college's controversial ploughing of the field in 2002 crucial.

Mr Morrison said the continuous 20 years of use by the community, which must be fulfilled for land to become a village green, had been broken by the ploughing. He added that there is no right to appeal in the case.

A spokesman for Worcester-shire County Council said it would write to Mr Morrison and the college to inform them of its final verdict in the next couple of days.

College bursar Sam Hesketh declined to comment until the verdict was official.