"TOLLIES" and "Brickies" will be able to stroll together in a Worcester park after it is treated to a £270,000 overhaul.

Worcestershire city councillors unanimously approved a huge improvement programme of the King George V Playing Fields, in Rainbow Hill, which it is hoped will bridge the traditional gulf between the residents of Tolladine and Brickfields.

The scheme will see trees planted along a resurfaced footpath between Ash Avenue and Sycamore Road.

A new path to Linden Road will be created as well as attractive entrances to the park, lighting, seating and improved car parking.

Rainbow Hill city councillor Coun Paul Denham said he hoped the scheme would help end "an almost clan culture" between the communities of Brickfields and Tolladine, which are separated by the park.

"I used to teach at Elgar High School and the kids there used to say they were either a Tolly or a Brickie and never the twain shall meet," he said.

"That persists into later life and if the park is made to look attractive at both ends people will come together.

"At the moment it is a vast field with a few sports pitches and a children's play area and doesn't look like a park. It's been allowed to deteriorate and a lot of the footpaths and steps are dangerous."

He hoped further phases of work on the park would deal with the quality of playing fields and replace the pavilion.

In approving the allocation of the Government funds on Tuesday, the city council cabinet member responsible for parks, Coun Francis Lankester, described the redevelopment as "unadulterated good news".

"Like many urban parks its maintenance was allowed to go down hill over the years. I'm extremely pleased to say the scheme is going to enhance this a tremendous amount," he said.