AN historic part of Worcester has been revealing

its hidden treasures as preparations get underway for a multi-million pound development.

But rather than a chest of glistening gold ducats or sparkling jewels, the bottom of Diglis basin has turned out to be home to a couple of old engines, several supermarket shopping trolleys, bicycles, car tyres and a toilet.

Civil engineering company Laser has drained the inner basin to check and repair the walls before work starts on the 422-home development.

Project manager Buy Thring said: "We have drained 12 million litres of water from the basin by building a clay dam wall and pumping the water into the adjoining basin. It was then released into the Severn.

"We had to do it very slowly because the basin walls are very old and we didn't want to damage them by letting the water out too quickly."

Workers from Laser are now washing down the walls ready for an engineering inspector to assess their condition and recommend any repairs that need doing.

"There are places where the walls have deteriorated very badly but the basin is in average condition. It will require some work but is not as bad as we thought it might be."

Once the repairs are made it will take one to two weeks to refill the basin with water from the outer basin.

Worcester City Councillor Mike Layland, who was born in Diglis Road, has taken a keen interest in the project.

One of seven children, he said the Diglis area held very fond memories. "We didn't have very much. We had gas lighting, a toilet at the bottom of the garden and no lock on the front door. We were really happy."

However, his memories are tinged with sadness as his brother Terry, aged eight, drowned in the inner basin 51 years ago after falling in.

"He was playing and swinging on the ropes when he fell in and a boat went over him. We had four days of misery and hope. We hoped he would turn up."

He said he was pleased the area was getting a facelift.

"It has been crying out for attention for years. It would be nice to see the boat building and employment continue at Diglis."

He added the area could also be used for leisure.