A MEMORIAL to the Battle of Worcester could be built on the site where Civil War soldiers fought more than 300 years ago.

Proposals to create a monument commemorating the 1651 clash between Royalists and Parliamentarians took a leap forward this week when members of the Battle of Worcester Partnership met to discuss possible locations.

It was decided that the imposing piece, which would rival the Elgar Statue in Worcester High Street, should be built in Sidbury, ideally opposite the Commandery, which was used by King Charles as a battle headquarters. "There are one or two advantages of the site, which is at the junction of Bath Road and Commandery Road," said James Dinn, speaking at the meeting.

"It's quite a prominent site on a main route into Worcester. It is near the Commandery and Fort Royal park and, at the moment, in view of the Cathedral."

The potential sites, including one off London Road, had been suggested by Worcester City Council's planning department and the partnership was pleased to find out the Bath Road/Commandery Road location is also close to a planned coach drop-off point.

It would also be near the Diglis development, which includes a hotel, a string of cafes and restaurants, and about 1,000 new homes. Malvern artist Kenneth Potts, the man responsible for the Elgar Statue, will create the site-specific work. He has already started work on a series of clay reliefs, which will be focal points of the planned Battlefield Trail.

The tourist trail, also being headed by the partnership in conjunction with the Battle of Worcester Society and city council, will lead people to various battle sites including the Ketch viewpoint, where Oliver Cromwell constructed a bridge of boats over the river Severn; Battenhall Park, where some of the Parliamentarian soldiers were based; and Perry Wood, where the Royalist forces found themselves defeated and fled back into the city.