LEOMINSTER Town Council is set for a major reshuffle after next week's local elections.

Eight councillors, including four former mayors and the post's current incumbent, will not be seeking re-election, meaning that the 16-strong body will have at least half of its seats taken by newcomers.

Alec Haines and Peter McCaull, who have both served for more than 25 years, are standing down, although, in Mr McCaull's case, a return, at a later date, has not been ruled out.

Ex-mayors Dennis Sampson and Joe Evans, Keith Miles, a councillor for the last 12 years, Anne Hart-Knight and Keith Parker have also decided against putting their names forward for a further term.

Current mayor Neil Stone, whose work commitments mean a withdrawal from the council, will, unusually, chair next month's meeting of the council and the annual town meeting, set for May 18, in spite of not, by then, being an elected member of the council.

Lack of time to arrange the mayor-making ceremony for mayor-elect Gordon Morris, assuming he is re-elected in next week's poll, before the next round of meetings has led the council to this solution.

At last week's meeting of the council Mr Stone thanked his colleagues, whether retiring or continuing to stand, for their efforts.

"This council has worked hard," he said.

And in an allusion to the situation at Bromyard, where a far-right candidate is guaranteed a seat on the town council, added: "It is a pleasure to see that my adopted town will be represented by people of moderate political views."