A Ledbury hotel has received a Silver Award from the Heart of England Tourist Board.

Mike and Janet Williams moved to Ledbury four years ago and began work on converting a Ross Road country house, which had fallen into semi-dereliction, into the Leadon House Hotel.

"This year has been up and down," said Mr Williams. "In the first couple of months of the foot and mouth crisis, we had just two sets of guests, but things have been picking up since then."

Mr and Mrs Williams run the six-room country hotel almost by themselves, with Mr Williams as the chef.

He said: "This award is a great honour, because not many of them are given out. It is awarded on the basis of the quality of the accommodation and food, and the standards of service."