Bulldozers moved on to the Spa's Lido Park site this week, sparking fears that the town's unique open-air bathing pool was under imminent danger of demolition.

But Wychavon Council chiefs have moved to reassure residents that there are no plans to bulldoze the attraction and that the correct planning procedures are being adhered to.

Wychavon's development manager Tim Deakin said: "The council is not demolishing the lido and anyone who suggests this is ill informed. We want to reassure residents that we are still looking at the redevelopment of the lido and the project is being considered by the executive board on January 24."

Bulldozers moved on to the site on Friday, January 6, to begin work on the first of two wet play areas that were seen on recent council proposals. The free-entry wet play area sits outside the lido site and is not part of the planning proposal for the salt-water pool complex.

The initial free wet-play area scheme - funded by a £75,000 grant from the office of the Deputy Prime Minister - is being built by Ustigate Ltd., and is due to be completed by the end of May and will be available for use from June.

Ian Wild, from the Friends of Droitwich Spa Lido and Its Park, said: "Some residents feared that work had begun on the actual lido complex but it has not. I can understand why they thought that because it is a problem with communication. People aren't totally sure what the plans will mean. It is important to highlight that people can still have their say about the main lido proposal - there is still time."