diff --git a/mysql-test/suite/vcol/r/vcol_misc.result b/mysql-test/suite/vcol/r/vcol_misc.result
index fe41e7e65f3..3c461a2e308 100644
--- a/mysql-test/suite/vcol/r/vcol_misc.result
+++ b/mysql-test/suite/vcol/r/vcol_misc.result
@@ -45,3 +45,28 @@ C
 1
 1
 DROP TABLE t1;
+CREATE TABLE t1 (
+a datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '2000-01-01',
+v boolean AS (a < '2001-01-01')
+);
+INSERT INTO t1(a) VALUES ('2002-02-15');
+INSERT INTO t1(a) VALUES ('2000-10-15');
+SELECT a, v FROM t1;
+a	v
+2002-02-15 00:00:00	0
+2000-10-15 00:00:00	1
+SELECT a, v FROM t1;
+a	v
+2002-02-15 00:00:00	0
+2000-10-15 00:00:00	1
+CREATE TABLE t2 (
+a datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '2000-01-01',
+v boolean AS (a < '2001-01-01') PERSISTENT
+);
+INSERT INTO t2(a) VALUES ('2002-02-15');
+INSERT INTO t2(a) VALUES ('2000-10-15');
+SELECT * FROM t2;
+a	v
+2002-02-15 00:00:00	0
+2000-10-15 00:00:00	1
+DROP TABLE t1, t2;
diff --git a/mysql-test/suite/vcol/t/vcol_misc.test b/mysql-test/suite/vcol/t/vcol_misc.test
index 2ed08a69fa2..20ae15dcd9c 100644
--- a/mysql-test/suite/vcol/t/vcol_misc.test
+++ b/mysql-test/suite/vcol/t/vcol_misc.test
@@ -43,5 +43,27 @@ SELECT 1 AS C FROM t1 ORDER BY v;
 
 DROP TABLE t1;
 
+#
+# Bug#604503: Virtual column expression with datetime comparison
+#             
 
+CREATE TABLE t1 (
+ a datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '2000-01-01',
+ v boolean AS (a < '2001-01-01')
+);
+INSERT INTO t1(a) VALUES ('2002-02-15');
+INSERT INTO t1(a) VALUES ('2000-10-15');
 
+SELECT a, v FROM t1;
+SELECT a, v FROM t1;
+
+CREATE TABLE t2 (
+ a datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '2000-01-01',
+ v boolean AS (a < '2001-01-01') PERSISTENT
+);
+INSERT INTO t2(a) VALUES ('2002-02-15');
+INSERT INTO t2(a) VALUES ('2000-10-15');
+
+SELECT * FROM t2;
+
+DROP TABLE t1, t2;
diff --git a/sql/field.h b/sql/field.h
index 9b31cbc7b70..53cfb982e32 100644
--- a/sql/field.h
+++ b/sql/field.h
@@ -73,20 +73,11 @@ public:
   Item *expr_item;
   /* Text representation of the defining expression */
   LEX_STRING expr_str;
-  /*
-    The list of items created when the defining expression for the virtual
-    column is being parsed and validated. These items are freed in the closefrm
-    function when the table containing this virtual column is removed from
-    the TABLE cache.
-    TODO. Items for all different virtual columns of a table should be put into
-    one list attached to the TABLE structure.    
-  */
-  Item *item_free_list;
 
   Virtual_column_info()
   : field_type((enum enum_field_types)MYSQL_TYPE_VIRTUAL),
     stored_in_db(FALSE), in_partitioning_expr(FALSE), 
-    expr_item(NULL), item_free_list(NULL)
+    expr_item(NULL)
   {
     expr_str.str= NULL;
     expr_str.length= 0;
diff --git a/sql/filesort.cc b/sql/filesort.cc
index 270f0f1ac37..0997eeca4d7 100644
--- a/sql/filesort.cc
+++ b/sql/filesort.cc
@@ -568,7 +568,7 @@ static ha_rows find_all_keys(SORTPARAM *param, SQL_SELECT *select,
       if ((error= select->quick->get_next()))
         break;
       if (!error)
-        update_virtual_fields(sort_form);
+        update_virtual_fields(thd, sort_form);
       file->position(sort_form->record[0]);
       DBUG_EXECUTE_IF("debug_filesort", dbug_print_record(sort_form, TRUE););
     }
@@ -587,7 +587,7 @@ static ha_rows find_all_keys(SORTPARAM *param, SQL_SELECT *select,
       {
 	error=file->ha_rnd_next(sort_form->record[0]);
 	if (!error)
-	  update_virtual_fields(sort_form);
+	  update_virtual_fields(thd, sort_form);
 	if (!flag)
 	{
 	  my_store_ptr(ref_pos,ref_length,record); // Position to row
diff --git a/sql/item_cmpfunc.cc b/sql/item_cmpfunc.cc
index 01eb1ca506a..43958b31212 100644
--- a/sql/item_cmpfunc.cc
+++ b/sql/item_cmpfunc.cc
@@ -825,7 +825,6 @@ Arg_comparator::can_compare_as_dates(Item *a, Item *b, ulonglong *const_value)
   return cmp_type;
 }
 
-
 /*
   Retrieves correct TIME value from the given item.
 
@@ -876,7 +875,12 @@ get_time_value(THD *thd, Item ***item_arg, Item **cache_arg,
   if (item->const_item() && cache_arg && (item->type() != Item::FUNC_ITEM ||
       ((Item_func*)item)->functype() != Item_func::GUSERVAR_FUNC))
   {
+    Query_arena backup;
+    Query_arena *save_arena= thd->switch_to_arena_for_cached_items(&backup);
     Item_cache_int *cache= new Item_cache_int();
+    if (save_arena)
+      thd->set_query_arena(save_arena);
+
     /* Mark the cache as non-const to prevent re-caching. */
     cache->set_used_tables(1);
     cache->store_longlong(item, value);
@@ -912,7 +916,12 @@ int Arg_comparator::set_cmp_func(Item_result_field *owner_arg,
         cache_converted_constant can't be used here because it can't
         correctly convert a DATETIME value from string to int representation.
       */
+      Query_arena backup;
+      Query_arena *save_arena= thd->switch_to_arena_for_cached_items(&backup);
       Item_cache_int *cache= new Item_cache_int();
+      if (save_arena)
+        thd->set_query_arena(save_arena);
+
       /* Mark the cache as non-const to prevent re-caching. */
       cache->set_used_tables(1);
       if (!(*a)->is_datetime())
@@ -1142,7 +1151,12 @@ get_datetime_value(THD *thd, Item ***item_arg, Item **cache_arg,
   if (item->const_item() && cache_arg && (item->type() != Item::FUNC_ITEM ||
       ((Item_func*)item)->functype() != Item_func::GUSERVAR_FUNC))
   {
+    Query_arena backup;
+    Query_arena *save_arena= thd->switch_to_arena_for_cached_items(&backup);
     Item_cache_int *cache= new Item_cache_int(MYSQL_TYPE_DATETIME);
+    if (save_arena)
+      thd->set_query_arena(save_arena);
+      
     /* Mark the cache as non-const to prevent re-caching. */
     cache->set_used_tables(1);
     cache->store_longlong(item, value);
diff --git a/sql/mysql_priv.h b/sql/mysql_priv.h
index 299222e4c95..4eb7f651ec6 100644
--- a/sql/mysql_priv.h
+++ b/sql/mysql_priv.h
@@ -1365,7 +1365,7 @@ find_field_in_table(THD *thd, TABLE *table, const char *name, uint length,
                     bool allow_rowid, uint *cached_field_index_ptr);
 Field *
 find_field_in_table_sef(TABLE *table, const char *name);
-int update_virtual_fields(TABLE *table, bool ignore_stored= FALSE);
+int update_virtual_fields(THD *thd, TABLE *table, bool ignore_stored= FALSE);
 
 #endif /* MYSQL_SERVER */
 
diff --git a/sql/records.cc b/sql/records.cc
index e2a1ea9b4af..b4552a3c450 100644
--- a/sql/records.cc
+++ b/sql/records.cc
@@ -327,7 +327,7 @@ static int rr_quick(READ_RECORD *info)
       break;
     }
   }
-  update_virtual_fields(info->table);
+  update_virtual_fields(info->thd, info->table);
   return tmp;
 }
 
@@ -396,7 +396,7 @@ int rr_sequential(READ_RECORD *info)
     }
   }
   if (!tmp)
-    update_virtual_fields(info->table);
+    update_virtual_fields(info->thd, info->table);
   return tmp;
 }
 
diff --git a/sql/sql_base.cc b/sql/sql_base.cc
index 8baff521c02..e4c7df6131e 100644
--- a/sql/sql_base.cc
+++ b/sql/sql_base.cc
@@ -8252,7 +8252,7 @@ fill_record(THD * thd, List<Item> &fields, List<Item> &values,
         prev_table= table;
         if (table->vfield)
         {
-          if (update_virtual_fields(table, TRUE))
+          if (update_virtual_fields(thd, table, TRUE))
           {
             goto err;
           }
@@ -8320,7 +8320,7 @@ fill_record_n_invoke_before_triggers(THD *thd, List<Item> &fields,
       if (item_field && item_field->field &&
           (table= item_field->field->table) &&
         table->vfield)
-        result= update_virtual_fields(table, TRUE);
+        result= update_virtual_fields(thd, table, TRUE);
     }
   }
   return result;
@@ -8411,7 +8411,7 @@ fill_record(THD *thd, Field **ptr, List<Item> &values, bool ignore_errors)
         prev_table= table;
         if (table->vfield)
         {
-          if (update_virtual_fields(table, TRUE))
+          if (update_virtual_fields(thd, table, TRUE))
           {
             goto err;
           }
@@ -8471,7 +8471,7 @@ fill_record_n_invoke_before_triggers(THD *thd, Field **ptr,
   {
     TABLE *table= (*ptr)->table;
     if (table->vfield)
-      result= update_virtual_fields(table, TRUE);
+      result= update_virtual_fields(thd, table, TRUE);
   }
   return result;
 
diff --git a/sql/sql_class.cc b/sql/sql_class.cc
index bae42ad85bd..a6d783bf6f4 100644
--- a/sql/sql_class.cc
+++ b/sql/sql_class.cc
@@ -802,6 +802,8 @@ THD::THD()
   thr_lock_owner_init(&main_lock_id, &lock_info);
 
   m_internal_handler= NULL;
+
+  arena_for_cached_items= 0;
 }
 
 
diff --git a/sql/sql_class.h b/sql/sql_class.h
index e9129983240..3680e28246e 100644
--- a/sql/sql_class.h
+++ b/sql/sql_class.h
@@ -2379,6 +2379,27 @@ public:
     Protected with LOCK_thd_data mutex.
   */
   void set_query(char *query_arg, uint32 query_length_arg);
+
+private:
+  /* 
+    This reference points to the table arena when the expression
+    for a virtual column is being evaluated
+  */ 
+  Query_arena *arena_for_cached_items;
+
+public:
+  void reset_arena_for_cached_items(Query_arena *new_arena)
+  {
+    arena_for_cached_items= new_arena;
+  }
+  Query_arena *switch_to_arena_for_cached_items(Query_arena *backup)
+  {
+    if (!arena_for_cached_items)
+      return 0;
+    set_n_backup_active_arena(arena_for_cached_items, backup);
+    return backup;
+  }
+
 private:
   /** The current internal error handler for this thread, or NULL. */
   Internal_error_handler *m_internal_handler;
diff --git a/sql/sql_delete.cc b/sql/sql_delete.cc
index eb05077f17a..8a016295eaa 100644
--- a/sql/sql_delete.cc
+++ b/sql/sql_delete.cc
@@ -304,7 +304,7 @@ bool mysql_delete(THD *thd, TABLE_LIST *table_list, COND *conds,
   while (!(error=info.read_record(&info)) && !thd->killed &&
 	 ! thd->is_error())
   {
-    update_virtual_fields(table);
+    update_virtual_fields(thd, table);
     // thd->is_error() is tested to disallow delete row on error
     if (!select || select->skip_record(thd) > 0)
     {
diff --git a/sql/sql_handler.cc b/sql/sql_handler.cc
index 2f3ce99ab9c..61f29886da8 100644
--- a/sql/sql_handler.cc
+++ b/sql/sql_handler.cc
@@ -664,7 +664,7 @@ retry:
       goto ok;
     }
     /* Generate values for virtual fields */
-    update_virtual_fields(table);
+    update_virtual_fields(thd, table);
     if (cond && !cond->val_int())
       continue;
     if (num_rows >= offset_limit_cnt)
diff --git a/sql/sql_select.cc b/sql/sql_select.cc
index 8df5e4f697f..9912fa9a4e2 100644
--- a/sql/sql_select.cc
+++ b/sql/sql_select.cc
@@ -11628,7 +11628,7 @@ evaluate_join_record(JOIN *join, JOIN_TAB *join_tab,
   }
   DBUG_PRINT("info", ("select cond 0x%lx", (ulong)select_cond));
 
-  update_virtual_fields(join_tab->table);
+  update_virtual_fields(join->thd, join_tab->table);
 
   if (select_cond)
   {
@@ -11850,7 +11850,7 @@ flush_cached_records(JOIN *join,JOIN_TAB *join_tab,bool skip_last)
     int err= 0;
     SQL_SELECT *select=join_tab->select;
     if (rc == NESTED_LOOP_OK)
-      update_virtual_fields(join_tab->table);
+      update_virtual_fields(join->thd, join_tab->table);
     if (rc == NESTED_LOOP_OK &&
         (!join_tab->cache.select ||
          (err= join_tab->cache.select->skip_record(join->thd)) != 0 ))
@@ -12038,7 +12038,7 @@ join_read_system(JOIN_TAB *tab)
       empty_record(table);			// Make empty record
       return -1;
     }
-    update_virtual_fields(table);
+    update_virtual_fields(tab->join->thd, table);
     store_record(table,record[1]);
   }
   else if (!table->status)			// Only happens with left join
@@ -12087,7 +12087,7 @@ join_read_const(JOIN_TAB *tab)
 	return report_error(table, error);
       return -1;
     }
-    update_virtual_fields(table);
+    update_virtual_fields(tab->join->thd, table);
     store_record(table,record[1]);
   }
   else if (!(table->status & ~STATUS_NULL_ROW))	// Only happens with left join
diff --git a/sql/sql_table.cc b/sql/sql_table.cc
index 624aab93e33..1d1233786ed 100644
--- a/sql/sql_table.cc
+++ b/sql/sql_table.cc
@@ -7891,7 +7891,7 @@ copy_data_between_tables(TABLE *from,TABLE *to,
       error= 1;
       break;
     }
-    update_virtual_fields(from);
+    update_virtual_fields(thd, from);
     thd->row_count++;
     /* Return error if source table isn't empty. */
     if (error_if_not_empty)
@@ -7912,7 +7912,7 @@ copy_data_between_tables(TABLE *from,TABLE *to,
       copy_ptr->do_copy(copy_ptr);
     }
     prev_insert_id= to->file->next_insert_id;
-    update_virtual_fields(to, TRUE);
+    update_virtual_fields(thd, to, TRUE);
     if (thd->is_error())
     {
       error= 1;
diff --git a/sql/sql_update.cc b/sql/sql_update.cc
index e260310206a..4e2b1411f32 100644
--- a/sql/sql_update.cc
+++ b/sql/sql_update.cc
@@ -469,7 +469,7 @@ int mysql_update(THD *thd,
       while (!(error=info.read_record(&info)) && 
              !thd->killed && !thd->is_error())
       {
-        update_virtual_fields(table);
+        update_virtual_fields(thd, table);
 	if (!select || select->skip_record(thd) > 0)
 	{
           if (table->file->was_semi_consistent_read())
@@ -576,7 +576,7 @@ int mysql_update(THD *thd,
 
   while (!(error=info.read_record(&info)) && !thd->killed)
   {
-    update_virtual_fields(table);
+    update_virtual_fields(thd, table);
     if (!select || select->skip_record(thd) > 0)
     {
       if (table->file->was_semi_consistent_read())
diff --git a/sql/table.cc b/sql/table.cc
index 451515c1262..334596e28b2 100644
--- a/sql/table.cc
+++ b/sql/table.cc
@@ -1928,10 +1928,8 @@ end:
     parses it, building an item object for it. The pointer to this item is
     placed into in field->vcol_info.expr_item. After this the function performs
     semantic analysis of the item by calling the the function fix_vcol_expr.
-    Since the defining expression is part of the table definition the item
-    for it is created in table->memroot within a separate Query_arena.
-    The free_list of this arena is saved in field->vcol_info.item_free_list
-    to be freed when the table defition is removed from the TABLE_SHARE cache.
+    Since the defining expression is part of the table definition the item for
+    it is created in table->memroot within the special arena TABLE::expr_arena.
 
   @note
     Before passing 'vcol_expr" to the parser the function embraces it in 
@@ -1988,9 +1986,18 @@ bool unpack_vcol_info_from_frm(THD *thd,
   */
   Query_arena *backup_stmt_arena_ptr= thd->stmt_arena;
   Query_arena backup_arena;
-  Query_arena vcol_arena(&table->mem_root, Query_arena::INITIALIZED);
-  thd->set_n_backup_active_arena(&vcol_arena, &backup_arena);
-  thd->stmt_arena= &vcol_arena;
+  Query_arena *vcol_arena= table->expr_arena;
+  if (!vcol_arena)
+  {
+    Query_arena expr_arena(&table->mem_root, Query_arena::INITIALIZED);
+    if (!(vcol_arena= (Query_arena *) alloc_root(&table->mem_root,
+                                                 sizeof(Query_arena))))
+      goto err;
+    *vcol_arena= expr_arena;
+    table->expr_arena= vcol_arena;
+  }
+  thd->set_n_backup_active_arena(vcol_arena, &backup_arena);
+  thd->stmt_arena= vcol_arena;
 
   thd->lex->parse_vcol_expr= TRUE;
   old_character_set_client= thd->variables.character_set_client;
@@ -2012,7 +2019,6 @@ bool unpack_vcol_info_from_frm(THD *thd,
     field->vcol_info= 0;
     goto err;
   }
-  field->vcol_info->item_free_list= thd->free_list;
   goto end;
 
 err:
@@ -2021,7 +2027,8 @@ err:
   thd->free_items();
 end:
   thd->stmt_arena= backup_stmt_arena_ptr;
-  thd->restore_active_arena(&vcol_arena, &backup_arena);
+  if (vcol_arena)
+    thd->restore_active_arena(vcol_arena, &backup_arena);
   thd->variables.character_set_client= old_character_set_client;
 
   DBUG_RETURN(rc);
@@ -2444,12 +2451,12 @@ int closefrm(register TABLE *table, bool free_share)
   }
   my_free((char*) table->alias, MYF(MY_ALLOW_ZERO_PTR));
   table->alias= 0;
+  if (table->expr_arena)
+    table->expr_arena->free_items();
   if (table->field)
   {
     for (Field **ptr=table->field ; *ptr ; ptr++)
     {
-      if ((*ptr)->vcol_info)
-        free_items((*ptr)->vcol_info->item_free_list);
       delete *ptr;
     }
     table->field= 0;
@@ -5416,6 +5423,7 @@ size_t max_row_length(TABLE *table, const uchar *data)
 /*
   @brief Compute values for virtual columns used in query
 
+  @param  thd              Thread handle
   @param  table            The TABLE object
   @param  for_write        Requests to compute only fields needed for write   
   
@@ -5432,7 +5440,7 @@ size_t max_row_length(TABLE *table, const uchar *data)
     >0   Error occurred when storing a virtual field value
 */
 
-int update_virtual_fields(TABLE *table, bool for_write)
+int update_virtual_fields(THD *thd, TABLE *table, bool for_write)
 {
   DBUG_ENTER("update_virtual_fields");
   Field **vfield_ptr, *vfield;
@@ -5440,6 +5448,7 @@ int update_virtual_fields(TABLE *table, bool for_write)
   if (!table || !table->vfield)
     DBUG_RETURN(0);
 
+  thd->reset_arena_for_cached_items(table->expr_arena);
   /* Iterate over virtual fields in the table */
   for (vfield_ptr= table->vfield; *vfield_ptr; vfield_ptr++)
   {
@@ -5458,6 +5467,7 @@ int update_virtual_fields(TABLE *table, bool for_write)
       DBUG_PRINT("info", ("field '%s' - skipped", vfield->field_name));
     }
   }
+  thd->reset_arena_for_cached_items(0);
   DBUG_RETURN(0);
 }
 
diff --git a/sql/table.h b/sql/table.h
index 1424414ade8..f968a3ee173 100644
--- a/sql/table.h
+++ b/sql/table.h
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ class st_select_lex;
 class partition_info;
 class COND_EQUAL;
 class Security_context;
+class Query_arena;
 
 /*************************************************************************/
 
@@ -869,6 +870,14 @@ struct st_table {
   MEM_ROOT mem_root;
   GRANT_INFO grant;
   FILESORT_INFO sort;
+  /*
+    The arena which the items for expressions from the table definition
+    are associated with.  
+    Currently only the items of the expressions for virtual columns are
+    associated with this arena.
+    TODO: To attach the partitioning expressions to this arena.  
+  */
+  Query_arena *expr_arena;
 #ifdef WITH_PARTITION_STORAGE_ENGINE
   partition_info *part_info;            /* Partition related information */
   bool no_partitions_used; /* If true, all partitions have been pruned away */