MORE than 500 people have sent letters to Worcester City Council making suggestions on how to revamp a Worcester park.

City council bosses are sifting through the suggestions for Fort Royal Park following an appeal for ideas in the Worcester News in October. A bid is about to be drawn up for lottery funding, which will take into account people's suggestions.

Cabinet member for clean and green Coun Allah Ditta said: "The two meetings we have held on the park has seen a tremendous turn-out and we got a great deal of feedback from it.

"We will look at all the comments made. Friends of Fort Royal are involved and are taking a key interest, as well as other members of the public.

"It is clear how important this is - it is a project worth endorsing."

Revamping the park, in Wyld's Lane, has become a focus point for the city council and a bid is being made to the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Cabinet member for safer and stronger communities Coun Francis Lankester added that he used to visit Fort Royal Park as a boy and is looking forward to seeing it redeveloped. "When I was a boy I had compulsory visits to Fort Royal park at school, and I loved going," he said.

"I still do love going, even though it did deteriorate over the years. I know recent improvements have been made to the park even without this lottery bid, but now is the time to move this forward.

"It takes a tremendous effort to out these projects together. There has been an enthusiastic response from people who care passionately about the park and want to see it restored to its glory days."

A bid will be drawn up next month. The council will know whether or not it has secured funding by 2010.