A BREAKTHROUGH on the controversial redevelopment of the Christopher Whitehead Language College has moved closer after Tesco's exclusive contract on the site ran out.

The county council can now approach other developers to help rebuild the school, in St John's, Worcester - but insists it could go ahead with the plans without any involvement from the private sector.

Tesco had been involved in negotiations to buy the Christopher Whitehead site, which would mean the school being moved elsewhere.

But a new obstacle has now emerged, with Worcester City Council insisting a replacement sports centre for the nearby Sainsbury's have a prominent 'shop frontage' on the highway, while others involved in discussions would prefer to see the centre incorporated into the new school buildings.

The Worcester News has also been told city MP Mike Foster has intervened in the negotiations to break the deadlock.

He has held several private meetings with senior officers from both the city and county councils and threatened to "bang heads together" after becoming increasingly frustrated at the lack of progress.

Mr Foster said: "My discussions have been in private, and they should remain so. But there are a number of issues that need to be resolved before more concrete proposals can be made public. The stalemate we are in needs to be broken."

A spokesman for Worcestershire County Council confirmed an exclusive contract signed with Tesco had now expired - and the authority would now go ahead 'with or without' the supermarket.

He added: "We have sufficient funds in our capital budget and could go it alone."