FOUR-and-a-half million pounds could be spent on essential repair work and upgrading at County Hall.

Worcestershire County Council's 25-year-old headquarters is earmarked for improvements including easier access for the disabled, re-decorated communal areas and upgraded meeting rooms and lecture theatre.

But the multi-million pound project, the cost of which has been estimated by head of property services Malcolm Williams, also includes new carpets to replace threadbare ones, vital roof repairs and improved toilets.

Peter Fallows, chairman of the county council, said after 25 years it should be expected that the building would be looking tired in some places and needing work.

He added the site, which cost £8m to build, should be a building the county was proud of when people visited.

"The hall represents the county so it must give a good impression when people visit from abroad or from outside the county," he said.

"A lot of things in it are beginning to look a little shabby so it's right the work is done where necessary."

Kevin Galloway, council spokesman, said the work would also ensure health and safety regulations were met and stop the building falling into disrepair.

"The property has to be maintained," he said.

"Like the records office, county museums and libraries, it's a public building which is used by hundreds of thousands of people every year.

"It's also used for a number of local events and exhibitions so it's important it's maintained so people can continue to use it.

"Nor can we have people falling over buckets collecting rainwater from a leaking ceiling and although the carpets are not dangerous at the moment, they could soon could be so something needs to be done."

Like all county council buildings, he said, the hall was part of the county's heritage.

"County Hall, the records office, our libraries and museums have been maintained over the years and give something to the community - and will continue to do so in the future," he added.