A WORCESTER martial arts centre is to be given 12 months to find a new property after city councillors raised concerns about parking.

Lion's Claw Kung Fu was set up in June and is based in a warehouse on Skinner Road in St John's, which used to be occupied by St John's Glass.

The club applied for permission to change the use of the building, but planning officers recommended that councillors refuse the application because there is no car park.

At a meeting of the planning committee, members heard that the club had made an informal arrangement with a local pub to use its car park.

But Derek Prodger, ward councillor for St John's, said he would still be supporting refusal because parking on Skinner Road was already "bumper to bumper".

However, Coun Ray Turner said the club was a good thing for young people in the area and should be given a chance.

"I would hate to see this fold because this club is a very valuable thing for the young people in the area. I would be inclined to give it a chance - I think it is something that is sadly lacking in the community," he said.

But councillors were not prepared to grant the club a permanent change of use and offered to grant it permission to use the building for only 12 months, subject to conditions.

The planning committee will make a final decision on the club's future at its next meeting in August.

Speaking after the meeting, Lee Jones, who runs the Kung Fu club and founded the nearby Martial Arts Temple, said the council had failed to realise its potential.

"They didn't really understand that we are trying to establish an operation that will become a centre of excellence. We don't want to go back into schools and village halls," he said.

"But I was happy that they gave us 12 months, I was grateful for that. We are looking for a two-storey building anyway. It just means we might have to find it quicker than we expected."