THE group fighting to achieve town council status for Kidderminster has vowed to battle on despite another setback.

Kidderminster Charter Trustees have already begun its battle to have November's decision by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions reversed.

It has asked Wyre Forest MP David Lock, local MEPs, Wyre Forest District Council, Worcestershire County Council and the National Association of Local Councils for support before deciding whether to appeal against the ruling.

The trustees have been campaigning for a town authority, to put it on a par with Bewdley and Stourport, for more than 25 years so Kidderminster can have its own say on matters affecting the town.

The group has written to more than 300 organisations and is also seeking a meeting with a minister and officials from the DETR to try to get the issue reconsidered.

The DETR said Kidderminster's 56,000 population is too large for a town council and there could be conflicts of interest within the district.