A charity may have to leave its offices if a district council goes ahead with plans to sell up.

The Association for Rehabilitation of Communication and Oral Skills (ARCOS) has used Whitbourne Lodge, Church Street, in Malvern, for about eight years.

Malvern Hills District Council is set to dispose of the plot of land between Victoria Road and Albert Road North, which includes Whitbourne Lodge and its neighbour Milbourne Lodge, and land used for car parking.

The site was once home to the council's treasurer's office, but has not been used by the council since the mid-1990s. This week, the council's executive committee said the whole site should be put on the market to be sold to a residential developer. Kay Coombes, ARCOS founder, said she hoped the council will be open to discussions about the land, but the charity may have to leave Malvern. She said: "It all depends on what alternative we find.

"There aren't an awful lot of places in Malvern that would be available and suitable. We've always seen this site as a stepping stone to bigger things, but we very much hope that Malvern would want ARCOS to stay around."

Former ARCOS patient Lindy Draper said: "I had a stroke four years ago and lost the power of speech. Without the help of Kay and ARCOS I would not be speaking as I am today. It would be outrageous if these wonderful people were to be forced out."