THE Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has called on residents in Diglis to fight to save two pubs in the area.

The King's School in Worcester plans to convert the Alma to build a pre-prep school and build a sports hall where the Salmon's Leap is.

CAMRA say as Diglis is undergoing major redevelopment with new housing and waterside apartments the pubs should be saved.

Bill Ottaway, CAMRA spokesman for Worcester said: "The school has closed the Alma hoping that a lack of trade will make it possible to get planning permission for a change of use.

The Worcester Branch of CAMRA is campaigning with local residents to stop the destruction."

Flyers are being delivered in the area to get the public on board and fight the proposals.

Mr Ottaway added: "CAMRA is keen that we do not lose pubs.

It's easier to get change of use of a pub after it has been demolished. We are campaigning to get that overturned."

He added that the public have until July 6 to register their views with the council to save the Alma and that more needed to be done to keep the Salmon's Leap open.

He said: "They say that since the redundancies at the Porcelain works trade has been severely affected, but this is in an area where there will be lots of new homes built so there should be a place for this pub."

King's School bursar Galen Bartholomew said a new sports hall will benefit the Diglis area .

He said: "We were approached by the Salmon's Leap's owners Mr and Mrs Walker about buying the pub and now exchanged contracts. there are a lot of pubs in this area and the new sports hall will benefit the public."

Bernard Walker, landlord of the Salmon's Leap, said he did not welcome CAMRA's interest in the pub.

He said: "I don't know why CAMRA are getting so involved. They never showed any interest when the pub was open and we only get evening trade since the Porcelain factory closed. When the smoking ban comes in that will be affected even more.The deal is done and dusted and the pub will close next month."