THE revamped area around Worcester's Edgar Tower will be unveiled at a special ceremony this week.

A plaque to mark the work on the 14th Century tower will be uncovered by Cecil Duckworth, from the Duckworth Worcestershire Trust.

The re-paving project, which involved replacing the tarmac surface with granite setts and York stone paving, repairing stone work and floodlighting the entrance, began in July 2000.

It was phased over two years to make sure access to The King's School was not affected. And while work was being carried out, a dig was undertaken by the Cathedral archaeologist which led to the discovery of the foundations of an earlier tower.

Further work included installing a retracting bollard beneath the tower at the entrance to College Green, designed to reduce the number and speed of vehicles using the city centre green space.

The work, which was undertaken by the Cathedral in partnership with the city council, Heritage Lottery Fund and Duckworth Trust, has been labelled a great success.

"Partnerships are the way forward for a new life. We've seen a sensitive return to the paving of the entrance to this historic city gate," said the Dean of Worcester, the Very Rev Peter Marshall.

Councillor David Clark, Mayor of Worcester, revealed plans had been prepared to extend the work to take in the whole of Edgar Street.

But he said the partnership was still awaiting funding. The plaque unveiling ceremony will begin at 2.30pm on Friday, January 4.