A CALL was made this week for Leominster Town Council to sell off antiques and valuables it owns to boost the town's swimming pool fund.

"We should get rid of these useless assets," Councillor Tony French told a meeting on Monday.

He made the plea after learning that the council was faced with storage problems over many items, including paintings and a Jacobean table, which had come into its possession over many years.

Town clerk John Wesley told councillors: "We have a great long list of property which is scattered around the town."

A Leominster business, which held some things for safekeeping, was unable to carry on storing the valuables, the council was told.

Mr French said: "We should find out the value of these things and put them to some use rather than let them sit in a storeroom. We could sell them to raise funds for WWOP (the pool fund)."

Mayor Janet Atkinson said the selling off of assets was "a very sensitive issue with some of the electorate in Leominster."

She proposed a task force should review assets. A five-strong group was set up.