PEOPLE are being asked to stop peeking at Worcester's Cathedral island - after an explosion of interest led to SAFETY concerns.

Your Worcester News can today reveal how Worcestershire County Council is planning to block the site from public view with mesh fencing after worries too many passers-by and tourists were crossing the road to look in, standing right next to cars hurtling past.

These images show exactly what people have been peeking at - with a fascinating archaeological dig unearthing old cellars and other structures with medieval origins.

The cellars belonged to Georgian and Victorian properties which formed part of the old Lich Street, some of which were still standing in the 1960s.

But due to safety worries the council is now urging people to stay over the road, and will put mesh fencing around it later on today to deter those looking to cross.

Experts at the site say they are trying to finalise an exhibition detailing what they have found so far, which will be located in an empty Worcester shop, but it will take another fortnight to sort out.

Richard Bradley, project officer for Worcestershire's archives and archaeology service, who is leading the work, said: "The intention is to put mesh fencing around it to cover it up.

"People are crossing the road to stand right by the cars as they go around the island, which isn't what we want."

He told your Worcester News the dig, which started three weeks ago and has another seven to run, has been a success so far.

"We've found remains of the old Lich Street with actual structures on the one side and multiple cellars on the other side," he said.

"The structures are Georgian and Victorian, they were demolished in the 1960s but we've had people come up to us to say they still remember them being there."

Lich Street was largely residential and led down to Friar Street, but vanished more than 50 years ago when the homes were knocked down to create the Cathedral island on top of it.

A council spokesperson said: "While we are delighted by the amount of public interest and excitement in the excavation work at Cathedral roundabout, we do ask that members of the public take care and do not try and cross the road to view the site.

"It's too early to confirm our findings at this stage as excavation work is ongoing. "However, we will give the public plenty of opportunity to see what we are uncovering when it is safe to do so."

The £1.1 million revamp will see the Cathedral roundabout shrink in size to create a giant piazza-style open space for people to relax in.

* Take a look at some of our fantastic pictures from the digging work so far - have you got any of your own?

If so email photo@worcesternews.co.uk with a brief description of when you took it, and what you believe it shows.