AN HISTORIC viewpoint on the outskirts of the city will be moved after the completion of major roadworks.

The Ketch Viewpoint car park shut yesterday, in order for vegetation clearance works to take place along the A4440 Worcester Southern Link Road.

Worcestershire County Council is cutting down trees ahead of the construction of a new bridge over the River Severn.

During the clearance work, the Ketch Viewpoint car park will be used to collect and recycle the chippings, which will be transported off-site and used as sustainable biomass.

The viewing platform will also be temporarily removed during the closure – and later reinstated in a slightly different location.

The viewpoint overlooks the southern end of the city, including the cathedral and the river meadows where parts of the Battle of Worcester were fought, and also offers views of the Malvern Hills.

Recently, police issued a warning over nitrous oxide cartridges and balloons that were found in the viewpoint car park.

A local sergeant warned that it was extremely dangerous to inhale nitrous oxide, also known as 'hippy crack'.

The viewpoint car park will remain closed for the rest of the main Southern Link Road construction works and will be used for a variety of functions, such as the storage of equipment.

Worcestershire County Council restored the viewpoint in 2015, after overgrown trees obscured the view of where soldiers fought in the Battle of Worcester, in 1651.