'Scary' Community Hall incident leads to security review

Security at Ledbury Community Hall is now under review after the "scary" incident, which is being investigated by police.

One of the youths also set off a fire extinguisher in hall's foyer during the incident.

Matin Eager, the community hall manager, said the incident was "scary for the ladies" and he added: "Ledbury is a very safe town to live in and this is the first incident of this nature since I took over the management some three-and-a-half years ago.

"Incidents such as this are rare and should not deter people from using the hall."

But the incident, which took place at about 7.20pm on Tuesday, November 22, has led to a shake-up of hall security.

Mr Eager, who is also a town councillor said: "I do not want to alarm anyone, but it is advisable that when people are using the hall, especially in the dark evenings, that the front doors are closed and locked when everybody has arrived."

On this occasion, the doors of the hall had been left unlocked as the ladies' zumba class got underway.

Mr Eager added: "I will now probably install a doorbell so that users can let people know inside that they wish to gain access, this will help instead of leaving the doors open or unlocked."

Mr Eager said there is good CCTV footage of the incident, which has been viewed by the police.

Mr Eager said: "Ledbury Community Association, which runs the hall, will be pressing for a prosecution as we cannot allow such incidents to go unpunished."

A West Mercia police spokesman said: "We were called to the premises on Lawnside Road in Ledbury following reports that a group of four youths had entered the building while a dance class was taking place.

"The group were asked to leave but one member is believed to have then re-entered and set off a fire extinguisher before leaving the premises."

Investigations are currently ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call West Mercia Police on 101, quoting incident number 613S of November 22.