THERE will be an election for a new Ledbury town councillor on Thursday, February 27.

Four candidates are standing for the position recently vacated by Miss Lily Fieldhouse who, aged 24, was the youngest ever Ledbury town councillor.

Miss Fieldhouse is moving away from the area.

The four candidates are Richard Hadley of Gloucester Road, standing under the banner of "A Positive Choice for Ledbury"; Michael McLaren, of South Parade, described on the electoral office information as a company director and pension trustee; David St John Kettle, of Challenger Close, and Dee Knight, of Turner Court.

As a cost-cutting measure, there will be no polling cards, which would have cost the town council around £3,000.

Instead, "in-house" leaflets will be produced for parishioners, at a cost of around £70.

Cllr Tony Bradford, speaking a meeting in the Market House last week, stressed the importance of keeping the electorate informed and the community interested in local politics.

He added: "Some people in the past have said they just didn't know about vacancies. Last year, we sent leaflets round, and that might be the way forward this time; if we want to save money."

Coun Liz Harvey formally proposed using leaflets again, calling this cash saving "a good subsidy"; and this was approved through a vote.