YOUNGSTERS in a Worcester parish will finally have a multi-use games area and youth shelter to call their own.

Plans to build a flood-lit all-weather pitch and £5,000 shelter in St Peter's were given the thumbs up by Worcester City Council's planning committee on Thursday night.

Ward Councillor Aubrey Tarbuck said: "This would be of exceptional value and benefit to the local youths and people of St Peter's.

"I whole heartedly support this."

The plans, submitted by St Peter's Parish Council, on behalf of the parish's village hall association, involve the construction of a games area on overgrown land opposite Rainthorpe Avenue, near the newly-built St Peter's Baptist Church.

As revealed in your Worcester News earlier this week, the site will be surrounded by 3m-high fencing, but will not be lit up after 9pm and can be locked if necessary.

Coun Paul Denham said: "It's overdue this kind of facility. We've got a large area of housing, lots of young families and young people of the sort of age that will value this multi-use games area."

Coun Denham said although some residents had expressed concerns about the development encouraging anti-social behaviour, he said he felt it would do the opposite, giving youngsters something to focus their energy on.

However Coun Geoff Williams said it was vital that the site was run properly. "Otherwise residents living nearby will not be sympathetic with this," he said.

Coun Mike Layland raised concerns that turning off the lights at 9pm might be too early.

"If these are 14, 15, 16-year-olds, nine o'clock is too early to go home," he said.

"Where do they go from there?"

Members therefore decided to include a condition that this could be extended subject to consultation with the planning committee.

It is hoped the site will be open by Easter.