Oilman bids to rescue Malvern Water

An American oil businessman wants to buy the recently closed Malvern Water bottling plant from Coca-Cola to restore the brand, drunk by royals for 400 years, to its former glory.

Robert Day is meeting Coca-Cola directors on Friday to make an offer for the plant, which the US soft drinks giant shut in October. Mr Day said: "I am hopeful the company will be interested in my bid to buy the plant and continue bottling Malvern water. It's a great heritage brand and I want to revive it to bring jobs back to area but also to keep the legacy alive."

Mr Day, who lives nearby at Alderley House – a 26-bedroom mansion he is restoring – has the backing of the local MP, Bill Wiggin, and other community leaders. Coca-Cola closed the site claiming it was no longer viable and wanted to build luxury homes instead. But council planners have said they will not support the application.