DETAILED talks about the future of Grove Farm have been held with Tesco, Worcestershire County Council has confirmed.

Letters are to be sent to Worcester city councillors from senior staff at County Hall, following requests for information from Coun Derek Prodger about the supermarket chain's development plans.

He was unhappy that only a fleeting mention of Tesco's interest in Christopher Whitehead High School was among information supplied to the city council's technical services committee last Tuesday.

"There were only a couple of lines about it," said the councillor.

"A report from the county council will now be circulated."

A letter from Worcestershire confirmed a representative from Tesco had met with city, county, and Malvern Hills District Council officers.

Supermarket applications from Asda, Sainsbury's and Safeway for stores in the city centre, St John's and Hylton Road respectively were discussed.

"Tesco's development director then ran through the current position on his company's efforts to secure a potential replacement site for Christopher Whitehead," wrote the head of property services at County Hall, Malcolm Williams.

Matters were "close to conclusion" although Tesco had not yet clinched a deal with the landowners, he added.

Mr Williams said there had been "lengthy debate" about "the proximity of the western bypass, the status of Grove Farm, park-and-ride facilities, and the extent of playing field provision in relation to public open space".

A question mark hangs over the future of Grove Farm. A public inquiry has been held into plans to turn the land into an industrial estate and the city council expects a decision by the end of October.

Grove Farm could also be picked to host a nine-form-entry school to replace Christopher Whitehead, which would make way for a Tesco supermarket.

"Discussions have taken place but no application has been submitted," said Philip Sawyer, a chartered surveyor advising the Grove Farm landowners.

Colin Layland, the vice-chairman of Grove Farm Action Group, said the campaigners were awaiting the inquiry decision before responding to Tesco's proposals.