THE leader of Worcester City Council is backing a campaign to convert more upper shop floors into flats - but admits being sceptical over whether it can work.

Councillor Simon Geraghty says he worries there are too many major obstacles to overcome to make 'Living Over The Shop' a true success.

As your Worcester News revealed last week, talks are taking place over potentially making the city a UK pilot for a new project to get more apartments above retailers.

The campaign, by Worcester Green Party chairman Louis Stephen, is aimed at cutting congestion, turning cities into more family-friendly places and easing the pressure to build on land elsewhere.

City council housing officers are to meet Mr Stephen next month to see what can be done to take it on further after it won support from the likes of Fortis Living and business chiefs.

Councillor Geraghty said the two biggest problems would be getting shops to create separate access to the upper floors and bin storage.

"There's no lack of support from me, but there are practical issues which need to be thought through," he said.

"There's the access, and then there's the storage of waste - what we wouldn't want is more rubbish in the city centre.

"Some shops might already have separate access but it might be tucked away and not really suitable.

"When you look back to the days when people who had shops used to live above them, those days have faded away.

"I'm all for sensible conversions but that access and dealing with the waste are major issues - but what I will say is that I'm keen to see more of this happen, because it could breathe more life into our city centre."

At the moment there are very few flats above shops in the city centre, including none in the High Street or The Shambles.

Worcester's Business Improvement District (BID), which represents retailers and other city centre businesses, has already said it is prepared to do a survey to establish how many upper floors are gathering dust at the moment.

Many are used for storage but a considerable number are believed to be empty.

To find out more about Mr Stephen's campaign see his website at livingovertheshop.org.uk.