COUNCIL-BACKED retirement 'villages' could be springing up in Worcestershire - after Conservative politicians were wowed by a scheme to help the elderly.

Decision-makers in Worcestershire have visited a project in Birmingham where pensioners live in their very own 'village-style' complex.

The site, in Quinton, includes a gym, restaurant, pub, a garden centre, hairdressers, bowling alley, library and even a workshop for people looking to stay busy.

Now the county council wants Worcestershire to take the idea on, with its political leadership saying it would transform the lives of the elderly.

The Worcester News can reveal how Conservative Councillor Sheila Blagg, the cabinet member for adult social care, has already held talks with third-party financiers about developing the idea further.

The cash-strapped authority hopes to bring forward what it calls "a business case" for it over the coming months.

It comes at a time of intense pressure on the public purse due to Worcestershire's ageing demographics.

The Office for National Statistics (OBS) says 21 per cent of the county's residents are now over 65, compared to 18 per cent nationally.

It also says the numbers within that age group will rocket 37 per cent by 2030 taking the number of Worcestershire pensioners to 167,000 - and that over-85s will surge 85 per cent to 29,900 within that timescale.

The huge challenge has led to the idea of new council backed retirement villages being suggested as an option.

Bosses at County Hall believe with the right investor in place, the new complexes would free up more properties around the county and save on social care budgets as elderly people would be more sociable, active and engaged with society as they advance in age.

Councillor Blagg said: "To move this forward we've had financiers with us - we need to find the right village partner to do it.

"It may not be that we are able to partner with this particular one (a financial investor), but we are exploring our options.

"I'm very optimistic that by the end of the year we'll be in a position where we'll be able to look at the business case for this - the work we're doing now will carry on."

Councillor Blagg has also produced a report calling the Birmingham complex "impressive" and "a real sense of community",

In it, she says the villages offer the best opportunity for people to "maintain their independence and dignity".