CIVIC watchdogs have criticised a decision to pull down buildings belonging to Worcester's world-famous vinegar works - calling it "bad" for city heritage.

Worcester Civic Society says the demolition of six historic units at St Martin's Quarter for a towering apartment block should not have been allowed.

As the Worcester News revealed on Monday, the city council's planning committee has allowed a 98-bed block of flats to be created opposite St Martin's Gate car park.

The move will see some largely derelict buildings pulled down which were connected to the old vinegar factory in its heyday.

Historic England objected to the planning application, but it was still nodded through on the basis plans for a 128-bed hotel on the same site were approved in 2010.

Nevill Swanson, from Worcester Civic Society, said: "I think it's bad.

"I'd have wanted as much of the buildings on that site retained as possible - but nothing surprises me from the council."

Some politicians who did not sit on the committee have also admitted to having mixed feelings.

Tory Councillor Lucy Hodgson, the city's official heritage champion, said: "When the original planning application was put in and we heard about it, we did have concerns as ideally we'd protect as many of the buildings as possible.

"As long as there's a recognition of what was there before, like information boards, some signs or the style of the development - that's important.

"I don't think the design of the building is the best and I do think it's perhaps too tall, and not really in keeping with the area.

"In an ideal world we wouldn't want it pulled down. But St Martin's Quarter hasn't really lived up to its original expectations."

Labour Councillor Jabba Riaz, who represents the Cathedral ward, said: "I've got mixed views all-in-all - I welcome housing in the city centre, it fits on with our strategy on city centre living and car parking shouldn't be an issue.

"It's extremely difficult as a precedent was set to build there, the buildings on that patch are uncared for and unloved.

"But the height is an issue, it'll be as high or nearly as high as St Martin's Gate car park and dangerously close to the Cathedral."

The new towerblock will be one of Worcester's tallest buildings at six storeys high, and sit next to the old Jaguar car showroom fronting City Walls Road now known as The Bedroom Centre.

The council's planning officers says it did not consider the buildings that important compared to the main vinegar factory now occupied by the Territorial Army or the granary and fermenting shed, which are not part of the changes.

The development, led by Belbroughton-based Worcester Developments Ltd, will come with 59 parking spaces and 186 cycle racks.