HUNGRY customers have given a cool reception to plans to move hot food stands from Worcester's High Street.

A report by the City Centre Forum branded Lannie's van and the jacket potato stall "unsightly" and suggested the pair - a magnet for lunch-hunting workers - be wheeled away.

Punters said they were staggered by the report, which attacked patchy tarmac, clustered benches and trees which reduce light and obscure views, in addition to problems with street vendors or "black caravans".

City bosses said it would drag the "tired-out" area into the 21st Century, but customer Simon Clancy said the vans provided a service otherwise unavailable in that part of the town, providing manageable, affordable hot food.

'Well kept and tidy'

"The vans have been there for a long time and are presentable, well kept and tidy. Yes, if you moved them you would get a lovely view - of Woolworths and stockrooms full of boxes," he said.

The 25-year-old salesman claimed independent retailers were being discriminated against.

"The old town centre manager, George Munro, would come round every few weeks and say 'how's it going, any problems?' But in two years we've never seen the new manager,'' he said.

Woolworths employee Lisa Mills said the vans were in an ideal place and did not spoil the High Street. "Everything focuses around them and people can stop and relax for a minute," she said.

Lannie's Lorraine Burrows said she knew nothing of the report until customers told her about a story outlining the plans in the Evening News. "Apparently they sent out letters, but we never received one," she said.

"We don't want to antagonise the council, but we spent a lot of money on new wagons a few years ago at the council's request, to fit in with the bins and benches.

Kevin Kolb. whose jacket potato van has been in the High Street for around 20 years, said he would wait to see what happened.

"As long as they don't try to curtail our livelihood, there won't be any trouble," he said.