A FAMILY business is moving out of Malvern town centre - at least for the time being.

Millers Tyres Ltd will be leaving its Edith Walk premises for a unit at Spring Lane North, Malvern Link, in the next few weeks.

Wayne Miller, co-owner with his brother Mark, said whether the firm returns to Edith Walk depends on how well it does at the new location.

Millers Tyres Ltd got planning permission in December 2003 to knock down and rebuild the Edith Walk premises. Since then, the firm has been looking for somewhere to operate while the work is carried out.

Mr Miller said they would see what trade was like at Spring Lane, before deciding what to do about the Edith Walk property.

"If it goes OK, then we'll stay there. A lot of our customers work down there or live in that area and it's quite a big premises," he said. "We're keeping our options open."

The firm was founded some 42 years ago by Frederick Miller, father of the current owners. If the new location works out for Millers, it will have the option of selling the Edith Walk building.

This could have an effect on long-term plans for improving the town centre.

Some years ago, the idea of creating a new arcade of shops between the top of Church Street and Edith Walk was mooted - possibly coming out at or near the Millers site.

In 1999, Malvern Hills District Council commissioned consultants GVA Grimley to look at the idea's feasibility. The report showed there was room for development, but the idea foundered because of lack of support from local landowners.