Organisers of the Ledbury and District Branch of the University of Third Age say the response from local people has exceeded all expectations in the three months since the group was formed.

Membership secretary Peter Lawson-Smith said: "The branch now has a membership of 140, and there are 18 interest groups. These include local history, walking, computing, French, philosophy, creative writing, yoga and scrabble."

The group will be joined by the Ledbury Community Choir for a Christmas evening on Tuesday, December 16, at the Burgage Hall, in Church Lane, from 6.30pm.

The branch has also just produced a new batch of membership application forms, setting out the aims of the organisation. These are available now from Ledbury Library and Ledbury TIC.

For further details about the University of the Third Age, ring 01531 631338.