COCA-Cola Enterprises, which extracts and bottles Malvern Water, has confirmed its withdrawl of a plan to open up a second source of water on the hills - but only temporarily.

In a statement sent to the Malvern Gazette on Tuesday, the company says the postponement will give it more time to consult interested parties and answer their questions.

The firm applied in November to collect spring water at Walm's Well, near Eastnor, and pipe it to the existing spring at Evendine, 1.7 miles away.

The plan attracted criticisms, including worries about its impact on News Wood, an ecologically significant area just below Walm's Well.

Paul Meadows, the firm's head of corporate affairs, said: "CCE recognises that it needs to spend longer communicating the findings of its work so far and listening to key-stakeholders' concerns.

"CCE is confident that the proposed scheme will have no detrimental impact on the local environment. However, CCE has listened to people's concerns, understood them and hopes that the further studies it will be undertaking will reassure all interested parties."