THE demolition of an historic Worcester building is going to cost the city council an extra £20,000 after contractors discovered asbestos.

Work on pulling down the former city planning offices on Hylton Road, which once served as the city's saw mills, started in February.

There was a delay straight away because it took energy firm Aquila four weeks to disconnect the electricity supply.

Then further problems arose after the contractors took down the single-storey temporary building at the rear.

It was found that the base slab had been laid on up to a metre of another material found to contain asbestos.

The removal of this looks set to cost the council an extra £21,440 on top of the agreed £36,613.

At a meeting of the cabinet last night the additional cost was approved.

Council leader, Councillor Stephen Inman, said he could not see any alternative.

Once the building has been removed the land is to be used to extend Cripplegate Park.

A Lottery bid is being made for the riverside parks, including Cripplegate, with pump priming money coming from the Arena receipt for the racecourse.

Director of development services, Stuart McNidder, told the cabinet that the cost of the demolition of the buildings would be included in the bid.

In the meantime, the money will come from capital funds earmarked for improvements to the riverside parks.

He also reminded members that the demolition of the building would save them around £20,000, which they would have had to spend on insurance, rates and building maintenance.