A NEW head of environment has been appointed at Worcester City Council.

The appointment is a case of Worcester revisited for John Wrightson, who used to work for the Heart of England Tourist board in the city between the years of 1990 and 1998.

The Faithful City has continued to be his home for the nine years since then, despite his taking up local government posts in Hampshire and Chesterfield during that time.

Mr Wrightson will now be responsible for planning and housing in Worcester, and said that he was up for the challenge.

He said: "Worcester has changed considerably, and in many ways for the better, since I first came to the city.

"In recent years it has successfully blended effective conservation with good modern design.

"The challenge is to continue to nurture Worcester's distinctive identity and appeal, and improve its environmental quality as it changes and adapts to the needs of the 21st century."

City council chief executive David Wareing said he was "really happy" to be welcoming his new colleague on board.