LEOMINSTER'S now has an ale-taster, bread-weigher and fish-taster.

The town council backed an initiative to re-introduce the historic appointments earlier this year, after records showed that in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, the town employed two fish-tasters, bread-weighers and ale-tasters.

And while they won't necessarily have the responsibility that those in their roles once had – helping to ensure that the food and drink available for sale was healthy and drinkable – they'll play an important role in the Leominster of today in civic and ceremonial duties.

John Stirling has been appointed fish taster, Barry Simmons is the town's new bread-weigher and Roger Woolley takes the coveted role of ale-taster.

They'll be on hand at the town's food fayre in September and other local events and have already attended Leominster Medieval Pageant and festival.