Bromyard'S new market town officer has been appointed.

Nick Webster, who will divide his time between Bromyard and Leominster, will take up his new post on October 22. He is currently working with Herefordshire Council's Local Development Team.

A council spokesman, who announced Mr Webster's appointment on Monday, said the objectives of the new role would be to "work with new and existing partners to provide a viable economic and social future for the two towns as well as having a co-ordinated approach to community consultation, funding sourcing and marketing of the towns."

Mr Webster replaces former town centre manager Carl Jones, whose town centre enhancement works, mostly using European Community grants, have transformed the town over the past three years.

Bromyard town councillor Martin Ganderton said he was pleased with the appointment.

He said: "What it will mean is that we will have an opportunity to do what the authorities are calling for - a health check - which will enable us to utilise money from the Countryside authority and Advantage West Midlands to strengthen our community.

"If you identify something you want to apply for a grant from European funding or whatever, one of the first things they ask is 'have you carried out a health check?'. When we have done that we shall have a head start in trying to apply for grants.

"We hope it will be a positive benefit. It will be into next year before we see anything come onto the streets, so to speak but you have to manage today to do something tomorrow or next week. That's the approach we are hoping this new town centre manger will adopt."

Before joining the Local Development Team 18 months ago, Mr Webster worked with an organic food marketing company in Shropshire following five years at Aberystwyth University, where he gained a BSc in Rural Resources Management and a Masters in Business Administration specialising in Agri-Business.