LEDBURY Heritage Centre volunteers gathered to celebrate the end of their first season in charge, after they took on the tourist attraction to save it from Herefordshire Council cuts.

The celebration of people power and community spirit took place in the Burgage Hall last week, with tea and cakes, to ‘wind up’ the successful 2014 season.

Volunteer co-ordinator, Sally Holliday said: "This is the first year that the Heritage Centre has been managed by the volunteers themselves, with the support of the Ledbury Civic Society, since Herefordshire Council, who own the building, decided at the start of the year that they could no longer run it because of budget constraints.

“It has been a very good season with visitor numbers on a par with last year, thanks to the enthusiasm and support of our volunteers in enabling the Centre to remain open seven days a week throughout the season.”

Over 22,000 people visited the half-timbered medieval building in Church Lane this year, including 1,600 children.

And many commented favourably on the attraction of the building in the visitors’ book.

One visitor wrote “This must be one of the main attractions in the town. The building itself is spectacular. Thanks for keeping it open for us”. Another wrote “Beautiful old building – please keep it as it is – it’s your heritage”.

The friendliness and knowledge of the volunteers was also highly praised and many visitors commented that they had no idea how much there was to see in Ledbury and intended to return.

The Heritage Centre will be open again at the beginning of April 2015.

Anyone wishing to join the team of volunteers should phone 01531 633637, or drop into the Heritage Centre when it re-opens in 2015.