MYSTERY surrounds the future of Christopher Whitehead Language College after Worcestershire County Council revealed it was looking at two new sites - but no one is prepared to say where they are.

Two locations have been proposed - believed to be to the west of Worcester. City MP Mike Foster described the proposal as being "very different and exciting" and said he said he hoped the location would be revealed by Christmas, when negotiations with other mystery organisations reach a conclusion.

The participants could include firms such as supermarket giants Tesco and Sainsbury, which have both shown interest in the re-development before.

Worcestershire County Council children's boss Liz Eyre confirmed the sites were away from Earl's Court Farm, in Rushwick, the location which was turned down by the Government after a public inquiry last year.

Three separate councils are involved in discussions, hinting that, like Earls Court, at least one site is over the city boundary in the Malvern Hills district.

This would anger campaigners who fought to keep the school in the St John's area of Worcester.

Mrs Eyre said: "We have sat down with city and county planners and looked at possible sites. The local authorities are keen for a solution acceptable to everyone, if at all possible.

"It's very complicated and there is still a long way to go. We may be told neither site is acceptable."

Worcester MP Mike Foster said the development would benefit all of Worcester.

He said: "I'm relieved that the city council and the county council, instead of fighting each other, as they've been doing for many years, are now working together.

"I know parents, teachers and members of the community as a whole will be very excited.

"There is work still to do but I'm very hopeful this will be revealed before Christmas."

Nicky Jones, who has a son at the school, said: "It would be long overdue and, if nothing else, we need a new school because of the traffic congestion at the start and finish of the day.

"The buildings are old and the sports facilities aren't good, so to relocate somewhere else would definitely be the right thing to do."