NUNS want green-field restrictions lifted on their historic Stanbrook Abbey home so they can sell it for a higher price.

Now villagers fear the site in Callow End could be developed for housing or industrial use.

The 24 sisters are leaving for a new purpose-built idyll on the North Yorkshire Moors after deciding Stanbrook Abbey was too big for them.

But their long-term neighbours say the nuns no longer care what happens to the abbey, which has been their order's home for more than 150 years.

Debra Bruton, of Beauchamp Lane, said: "There's concern among villagers because they're trying to get the abbey into the development plan, and that says to me they have no worries as to what happens to it.

"They've been part of our community for some time and should perhaps show they care about us a bit more."

Neighbours fears come after a Government planning inspector visited Malvern planning chiefs' offices on Friday to hear the nuns' argument for allowing the abbey to be included in the Callow End settlement boundary.

At present it is listed as being within a green-field site, where development is restricted, and the council previously rejected an application to change this.

Callow End resident and district councillor Tom Wells said it would be bad news if this changed.

"It'd open the door to potential new development, which I believe would harm both the abbey and the village landscape."

Upton Road resident Martin Bone is set to lose his home when the nuns move as it is owned by the nuns. He fears a major development might be built in place of the abbey.

"I moved here for some peace and quiet and that wouldn't be the case if there was a housing estate or industrial estate there.

"It'd be disastrous for the village because the traffic's bad enough as it is."

The Government inspector is expected to produce his findings on the abbey next year as part of a wider review of the council's local plan.

The abbey's Sister Anna said: We're appealing against the council's decision and we're happy to go with the process of law deciding these things.