BARN owls and a host of other wildlife will be wiped-out if plans to build a new city business park are given the go-ahead, campaigners have claimed.

Residents living at Grove Farm, off Bromyard Road, St John's, have protested over proposals to build the 27-acre development since plans were first tabled in 1999.

Grove Farm Residents Voice Group, which was set up in response to the news, claims the site would cause traffic chaos, flooding and environmental problems - as well as destroy wildlife.

Group member and ecologist Stuart Worrall says he has fresh evidence rare barn owls, badgers and countless species of wild birds will be lost if the bulldozers roll in.

"Barn owls hunt all over this land. They are a schedule 1, fully protected species listed as globally threatened and the developments will bulldoze most of their hunting ground.

"This beautiful creature will be expelled from the fringe of Worcester. I have video evidence of these owls from October 2005 and have found their feathers."

Mr Worrall added he still sees the birds of prey at dusk using barns on the boundary of the proposed Grove Park and had also witnessed badgers and birds including flocks of finches and skylarks on the land. Head of planning for Worcester City Council, Paul O'Connor, said an incomplete planning application had been received for the site but that it would not be considered before more details were given from developers.

He added: "The developers have submitted an ecological survey with no report of barn owls.

"However, we will consult with relevant wildlife groups when the application is formerly submitted and made public to ensure we have all details on any wildlife.

"We would also ask anyone with evidence of wildlife on the site to get in touch with us and look at the plans when the application is formerly submitted."