WORK has finally begun at Hereford Town Hall nearly three years after scaffolding was first put up.

Scaffolding was put up outside the building in St Owen Street in December 2015 to support the porch which had settled by around 50mm.

The scaffolding was needed to keep the front entrance open and also to keep it safe for visitors and passers-by.

No remedial works had been carried out or started until this autumn.

A Herefordshire Council spokeswoman said: "Herefordshire Council can confirm that remedial terracotta and stone work has begun at Hereford Town Hall, following the awarding of the contract to carry out the work in June 2018.

"Remedial work to the grade II building’s canopy and building façade will be undertaken at a cost of no more than £260,000, paid for by the council.

"The future of Hereford Town Hall will then be considered as part of a wider strategic review of Herefordshire Council’s buildings.”

The decision to go ahead with the works was approved in December last year.

Last October the council said it hoped to have carried out the remedial works by April of this year. But the contract was not awarded until June.

More scaffolding has now been placed at the historic building so it stretches now to the roof.

The building is owned by Herefordshire Council.