UNUSUAL items including part of a house have been found in a popular park's pond during recent work.

Part of a house, two five-metre lamp posts and a skateboard were among the many items found in Priory Park's lower pond during desilting works.

The pond, which hasn't been cleaned in 30 years, is currently undergoing enhancement and repair works as part of the council's Five Year Plan priority to improve the popular Great Malvern park.

The house found in the pond was originally located at the Rose Bank Gardens and was left to the council by Dyson Perrins.

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It was used as an art studio until it fell into disrepair and was knocked down in the 1950s.

Cllr Peter Whatley, Portfolio Holder for Resources at Malvern Hills District Council, said: "We always knew there would be some interesting finds when we started the much-needed desilting works on the lower pond and we weren't disappointed.

"It has been great to see the work progress on the pond which will improve the water quality and make it more suitable for wetland wildlife to thrive."

Other items found in the pond included two five-metre lamp posts, a section of gutter, a chair, five traffic cones, a road sign, a cigarette bin, a skateboard, tennis rackets a frisbee, banners mobile phones and litter.

There were also 310 lorry-loads of silt removed from the lower pond, which will enable the pond to start capturing carbon again and provide the right environment for plants to grow.

The next stage is to incorporate new wildlife habitats and log piles around the pond for aquatic invertebrates and insects.

Shrubs and woodland bulbs are also set to be planted, along with the gabion baskets to create planting shelves.

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Works on the lower pond are expected to continue until early May.

The project has received £102,716.37 of funding from the European Regional Development Fund, awarded by Natural Networks.

This makes up 45 per cent of the project cost, with Malvern Hills District Council providing the remaining 55 per cent.

For updates on the improvements at Priory Park, you can visit www.malvernhills.gov.uk/priorypark.