CELEBRATIONS were held to mark the 150th anniversary of Leominster's first water pumping station.

Mayor of Leominster, Councillor Felicity Norman, was guest of honour at an event at Hereford's Waterworks Museum to celebrate the anniversary of the building which saved hundreds of lives in the town by eradicating typhoid fever.

The water pumping station has been at the museum since its reconstruction began in 1991 and was completed a year later.

The building was renamed the Tangye House because it holds examples of Tangye engines made in Birmingham.

Cllr Norman unveiled an engraved brass plaque to mark the occasion and noted in her speech the foresight of the Museum trustees in saving the building for posterity. Amongst other invited guests were representatives of Leominster's Civic Society, Historical Society and Museum. They toured the Waterworks Museum to see the massive pumping engines working, and then took afternoon tea with some of the trustees.