AROUND 150 people came to an exhibition about the future of the former Wells House School in Malvern Wells.

The building, on Holy Well Road, has been empty and increasingly derelict since the school closed in 1991.

JJSD Homes bought the land earlier this year after an earlier development bid failed.

It says the most viable option is to convert the school buildings into 18 apartments and two houses - but only if overgrown land between Holy Well Road and Wells Road, which used to house sports facilities, is developed.

At last Friday's exhibition at Malvern Wells Village Hall, the proposal showed six houses and a nursing home on part of the land, with much of the rest opened up for public access.

People were asked to fill in questionnaires about the project.

Mrs Anthea Hedges, who lives in Holy Well Road, said: "The old building isn't much to look at. It could definitely come down. The idea of developing the rest of the land looks a bit extreme.

Mike Bowker, of Holy Well Road, said: "This is a good proposal. It will add something to the village. The entrance from Wells Road is essential, because Holy Well Road is too narrow, with no off-road parking."

Ann Bowker, his wife, said: "I'm a bit concerned about the development completely changing the character of the area, which is wildlife-friendly at the moment.

"Dormice have already vanished from our end of Holy Well Road and we need to find out if they still live on the site."

Wilfred Harper, of Shuttlefast Lane, said: "After they've seen this exhibition, people ought to go to the site itself and view it from all sorts of angles to see what the impact would be. They need to see it from up on the hills, from Wells Road, from down on the plain."

Iain Bauermeister, of architects Boughton Butler LLP, who organised the exhibition, said: "We had people in all day, asking all sorts of tricky questions."