WORCESTER'S MP has hailed research putting the city in the UK's top 10 heritage destinations - calling it an "enormous opportunity".

Robin Walker has issued a rallying call for city leaders to build on this week's startling findings which saw Worcester placed on a national pedestal alongside places like Oxford, Cambridge, Kensington and Hastings for its history.

As your Worcester News revealed on Thursday more than 100 indicators were used to draw together the nation's first ever comparable database including the number of listed buildings, conservation areas, blue plaques, parks and nature reserves, historic events and even the amount of locally themed food and drink.

The work, by the Heritage Lottery Fund and Royal Society of Arts, put Worcester 10th from 329 areas - beating York, Bath, Bristol and Durham.

Mr Walker says the city deserves the accolade - but insists Worcester has played down its heritage for far too long, calling the research a "wakeup call".

He has also pointed out how the research put Worcester in the top five UK destinations for its 'assets', in other words historic buildings, landmarks and landscapes.

"I have always known that Worcester is a fantastic place with a wonderful history and an enormous amount of heritage, but it's wonderful to see this confirmed in this important piece of research," he said.

"To see our city up with the heart of London, Oxford and Cambridge for its heritage value is something that will please many - however this research also provides a valuable wakeup call that we can do more to promote our heritage assets.

"Whether it is our beautiful Norman Cathedral, our civil war history, so central to England's story and the emergence of democracy, our fantastic musical heritage or our industrial and cultural heritage, Worcester has so much to offer the world.

"With the world class archives and history service at the Hive and so many brilliant cultural venues in the city we are well placed to make more of our past and present success.

"However we do need to up the level of effort that goes into promotion and engagement of Worcester's heritage.

"I support a number of groups who are involved in just that and I would be delighted to see Worcester named officially a Heritage City."

The 100 indicators is by far the most detailed, expansive, reliable research ever done to compare Britain's heritage place-by-place.

The number of nature reserves, heritage open days, archaeological groups, heritage volunteering and pubs that have been listed as community assets were also among the comparisons.

One section of the report said Worcester scored "very high" on its assets due to its "historic listed buildings. museums, archives, artefacts", also citing the industrial heritage of the city and its canals.

But is also said Worcester fares much less well on engaging people with it, ranking at number 170 for involving the public in its heritage.