A 100-year-old Worcester firm is likely to be looking for a new home because its present factory is being demolished to make way for the city's £50m super library.

Worcester City Council's planning committee has recommend a compulsory purchase order be made on Coombers in Croft Road.

Coombers sells specialist educational equipment to schools all around the world and has traded in the city for 100 years.

It employs 35 people, has been at the site in Croft Road since the early 1960s and had strongly opposed relocation.

As the Worcester News reported, the committee delayed making a decision on Coombers last month over concerns about the firm's future.

Speaking at the meeting, Coun David Candler said he was "staggered" at previous delays.

He said: "This library project is the centrepiece of the councils' policy. I was absolutely staggered when I heard about the delays in recommending the compulsory purchase order on Coombers. I could not be-lieve it."

Coun Geoff Williams also lent his support to the project by saying it would be "perverse" to make any other decision.

"This £50m library scheme is central to the cabinet's policy, and it was supported by full council," he said.

"Bearing that in mind, it seems perverse to delay the matter any longer."

The recommendation for the compulsory purchase order is now expected to be rubber-stamped by the cabinet tomorrow night.

The library project is a joint scheme between the county council and the University of Worcester. It is seen as the biggest regeneration project in Worces-ter for many years.

Coun Paul Denham said he understood "alternative sites" were being discussed with Coombers, and pled-ged it would be "located on favourable terms".

The planning committee supported a compulsory purchase order, despite opposition from Coun Mike Layland and Coun Robert Rowden.

Both are concerned about forcing the firm off the site - and wanted their names recorded as having voted against the order.

Coombers declined to comment on the council's decision.