Ledbury'S entry into the annual Heart of England in Bloom competition is to be scaled down due to a lack of volunteers.

Sue Holland, acting chairman of the organising committee, said they had decided to focus their efforts mainly on the town centre this year.

"Because we have limited resources this year, we've said we'll do the town centre and anything else we can," she said.

"I wouldn't say that we've cut back too much but there are a few areas that I would like to do that we can't do because we don't have a big enough gang of people."

Mrs Holland said the majority of their current volunteers were elderly people, but she would like to see more youngsters offering a helping hand.

"We just need more young people to help with the tasks that some of our older volunteers find hard," she said.

Hanging baskets were put up by Ledbury Town Council at the beginning of the week, signalling the start of the bid, but work has also been taking place for the last few months.

Four tubs of flowers have been put on the platform in Ledbury Station, while 4,000 crocuses have been planted in Queen's Walk and the walled garden in St Michael's Churchyard.

Today (Friday) volunteers were due to start replanting brick-edged flowerbeds in Queen's Walk.

A fun scarecrow competition takes place on July 5. Shops, organisations and individuals are invited to create a scarecrow. These will then be put on display around the town when judges visit on July 15.

A gardening competition is also being held. Entries close on June 30, with judging taking place on July 11. Entry forms for both competitions are available from Ledbury TIC.

Anyone who would like to join the committee, or who is interested in buying a planted tub to put in front of their shop or home, should call Sue Holland on 01531 631228.