Ledbury looks set to get a new town flagpole as the existing one outside the Alms Houses in the High Street is rotten.

Town clerk June McQuaid told the last meeting of the finance and general purposes committee that, according to her information, the wooden pole was not unsafe.

But she added: "While it's not dangerous at the moment, it's something we need to be looking at fairly quickly."

The likely cost of the replacement, which will probably be a glassfibre pole, will be reported to the full council on October 18.

Chairman of the finance committee Spencer Lane said the council was not looking at colossal costs.

Figures heard by the committee suggested that a 12-metre pole might cost around £400.

Attention is likely to be paid to a new site near the existing pole in the grounds of the Alms Houses. Mrs McQuaid said the position of the present pole was not ideal. She added: "There is a locked gate and roses to get through. The new pole is likely to be placed much nearer the gate."