COUNCIL workers in Worcester are finally on the move - as staff packed up their belongings to say goodbye to their HQ.

Seven months after selling Orchard House to the University of Worcester in a deal totalling £3.1 million, workers departed the building yesterday evening ahead of a big move to the city's art gallery and museum.

After more than 100 staff packed away their stuff, a removals team moved in today to transport piles of crates over to the Foregate Street site, which has been extensively refurbished ready for the move.

It meant the main workforce either basing themselves at home or at other district council offices in Wychavon or Malvern today.

Worcester City Art Gallery & Museum, which has had up to £300,000 pumped into it to get the ground floor ready, will become the council's new main headquarters from Monday.

The Grade II listed building has needed meeting rooms, improved toilets and upgraded IT facilities.

The customer services face-to-face access will remain at The Hive and is unchanged.

Duncan Sharkey, the managing director, said: “I would like to thank all the staff at Orchard House for their patience and hard work in ensuring we all packed up and left the building on time.

"We’re all looking forward to starting work on Monday in the newly refurbished offices within the art gallery and museum."

Orchard House, based in Farrier Street, had been the city council's home since the turn of the century, although the Guildhall still houses some staff and the political decision-making all takes place there.

Prior to that staff were mainly based at Farrier House in the same street.

Under the plans the museum and gallery upstairs will remain open, with only the ground floor, left empty after The Hive opened, taken up by council staff.

The sale includes neighbouring buildings Wyatt House and Graveney House, adjoining offices.

The Moors car park has also been handed over on a 20-year lease, with the university paying a £260,000 upfront premium and a peppercorn fee of £1 per year for that particular asset.

As your Worcester News revealed last year, a sizeable amount of the cash windfall will go towards the new £10.4 million swimming pool planned for the city at Perdiswell Leisure Centre.

The University of Worcester will revamp Orchard House into what it calls "high quality" learning and teaching facilities, focusing on business courses.