THE long-awaited arrival of electric trams at Worcester was at last coming into sight a century ago.

In this week of 1903, the Journal reported: "The City Council is promising that work on the new electric tramway system will be begun shortly. It is three years since the scheme to convert the old weary horse trams into an up-to-date and bustling electric system was submitted to official notice, but many and long delays have been calculated to depress the hopes of citizens.

"What is in view is cheapness - a welcome penny fare to each boundary of the city, a more frequent service, and trams to and fro on every route every 10 minutes. The existing trams lines will be grubbed up bodily, and optimists think the whole scheme can be completed in quite a few months. Citizens hope that their enthusiasm will inspire the workmen."

However, as we know with the benefit of hindsight, the whole operation led to what became known locally and nationally as "The Tramway Siege of Worcester 1903-4" when the city was cast into total chaos.

For more than six months - from June 1903 until February 1904 - havoc reigned as all the main streets in the city centre were dug up for the removal of the old lines used by the horse-drawn tramcars and for the installation of the wider lines and overhead power cables for the new electric trams.

Such key thoroughfares as High Street, The Cross, Foregate Street, Broad Street, St Nicholas Street, Sidbury and Worcester Bridge were all transformed into frantic construction sites as virtually the whole of the city centre became a no-go area to traffic.

Citizens had to get around the central area entirely on foot to shop or to do their business, some pushing prams or other makeshift two-wheeled trolleys to carry their goods.

The effect on the trade, commerce and industry of the Faithful City was obviously severe. In all, a new 5 mile network of tram lines was laid.