WORCESTER'S bus services will be able to operate out of the CrownGate bus station longer than during the last flooding, thanks to innovative road works.

Worcester City Council has raised the road level with eight tons of hardcore - a gravelly mixture - surrounded by sandbags.

First Midland Red said that it hopes to keep services running as normal during the latest crisis.

"We've been advised that the situation is going to deteriorate," said Austin Birks, a spokesman for the bus company.

"We don't want to move out of the station. The sensible thing would be to keep the buses in CrownGate.

"It's quite a good idea of the council's, it was difficult last time."

The road has been raised by six inches at the bottom end of the bus station to enable buses to leave the CrownGate site.

City council engineer David Denning said that the road was an experiment.

"It's something that we've not really done before," said Mr Denning.

"The bus company and the CrownGate centre are desperate to keep the bus station open as long as possible.

"During the last floods the exit was flooded by 18 inches.

"We came to the conclusion that if we put in a temporary road we could attempt to keep the station open."

First Midland Red said that this option was less chaotic than moving out to another site.

"This way, people are sheltered and it's safe," said Mr Birks.

"We're going to try and stay as long as we can at CrownGate.

"If the raised road starts to flood we'll have to move to the Cornmarket car park."