SELLING off part of the Seaford Court site to help pay for Malvern's new hospital has not been ruled out.

Although residents want the whole site reserved for health services, the district council and South Worcestershire Primary Care Trust are discussing plans to put social housing on some of the land.

Council leader Di Rayner said that no option could be ruled out, including developing part of the site for social housing.

"We want the best hospital possible on the site and we're not ruling anything out," she said.

PCT chief executive Mike Ridley is pressing members of the hospital project team to throw their support behind changing the health-only designation.

In another development, Malvern Town Council members challenged Mr Ridley to get moving with the hospital.

He visited the council on Monday to update members on its progress, but they were not pleased at what he had to say.

Chairman Ralph Madden said they had been expecting a draft business plan to be ready.

He said: "It was clear that very little progress had been made. Although there have been some preliminary costings, there is as yet no sign of a business plan. So in his remarks to council, Mr Ridley largely went over old ground."

Coun Paul Tuthill said: "We're just going round in circles, wading through treacle."

And Coun Freda Johnson attacked Mr Ridley for his "temerity" in coming to the meeting without a proper business case for the hospital.

"Maybe we're simple folk but don't underestimate us. We're not to be trifled with," she said.

Malvern resident Ken Lidbetter, who attended the meeting, said: "The people of Malvern have said that they do not want part of the site sold and have requested that the site be used exclusively for the new hospital."