Butcher Andy Callwood is retiring from the business he has run in High Street, Ledbury, for the past 15 years.

The family will retain the freehold of the site but the premises will be let, with interest already expressed by a Indian take-away firm based in Birmingham.

Businessman Afsor Ali, who already owns a number of shops, has applied to Herefordshire Council for change of use planning permission to turn the butcher's shop into a tandoori take-away.

He said he hoped to hear from the council by the end of February.

Ross-based butcher Chris Callwood, the son of Andy, said that two other businesses had expressed interested in the Ledbury premises. He declined to elaborate further.

He said: "We've been in Ledbury for 15 years and before that the shop was Churchill the butchers for many years.

"My parents are retiring at 65 and I think it's enough to cope with one shop. I'll be staying in Ross. Now we are concentrating on being a bit smaller, instead of being a bit bigger."

The Callwood's shop in Hereford shut several years ago.

Chris said the business had enjoyed a very good response from Ledbury people over the years.

Rival Ledbury butcher Dave Waller, whose business is in The Homend, said he was sad that a shop of that standard was closing.

He said: "It's a lovely old established butchers and the town needs shops like that."

There are also changes ahead just up the street from the shop. The new owner of The Bull, Mark Payne, who took over the High Street pub before Christmas, said that it would remain a pub but that he had plans to develop the food side and live music.

Mr Payne said the changes would probably not take place for another five to six months.