WORCESTER'S historic Angel Mall is to have a new lease of life with the creation of a new restaurant.

The city council has approved plans for the Angel Place building to be converted.

Councillors agreed to the project after rejecting an application for a pub at the site over crime fears.

"To have a good restaurant in the city is of paramount importance because there is a lack of good food restaurants," said Councillor Ray Turner.

"I welcome it. That area has been an eyesore for some time now."

The planning committee heard that the new proprietor would have to restore the building, which proudly proclaims itself as a former fruit and vegetable market completed in 1920.

The mall, once a bustling trade centre, has become run down after uncertainty over the building's future prompted traders to leave.

It hit the headlines two years ago when workmen installing a drain gully unearthed two human skulls dating back to the 17th century when the site was a burial ground.

Will Scott, the city's principal conservation officer, was delighted at the prospect of the mall being occupied again.

"We had a long consultation over this with a big wish list of repairs we'd like to see, especially the stone plaque," he said.

"It is a lovely building and it will be good to see it occupied. A lot of the traders started to leave and it looks quite run down."

More than 400 years old, Angel Mall is the city's oldest market site.

Last Thursday's planning committee approved plans for the restaurant, providing repairs to the roof, wall and stone plaque were made and a new canopy fitted.

It also insisted on floodlighting around the building and that the restaurant opens at least six days a week and at least between 10am and 5pm.