A planning application that could secure up to 50 new jobs for Ledbury has been recommended for refusal by town councillors.

Amcor Flexibles, on the Lower Road trading estate, wants to a new warehouse extension and to raise the roof of its existing warehouse.

One of the council's objections was that the proposed roof extension might be too high and would be better painted green, instead of the merlin grey suggested by the town's biggest employer.

If was felt that a green roof would better match the leafy surroundings.

The final decision now lies with Herefordshire Council.

Helen Rogers, Amcor's human resources manager, said: "There's an element of disappointment over this, but these are issues that we can easily address."

Mrs Rogers said the company was in talks with Herefordshire Council planners and the roof extension would be painted whatever colour was recommended by the authority.

Amcor is expanding because of a new multi-million pound deal to print bread bags for famous brand names including Hovis.

The firms says it will increase its workforce to more than 300 within six months, as production is stepped up from five million to 15 million bags a week.

The town's planning sub-committee voted to recommend refusal of Amcor's plans at a meeting in the Market House last Thursday (March 3).

Another objection was that a right of way to the rear of the premises might be obstructed by the warehouse extension. This has been strongly denied by Amcor.

Town councillors' unease at the plans was defended by mayor Jayne Roberts, who said: "If people submit plans, we have to have enough details. The height of the proposed building looks significantly higher than surrounding buildings."

Plans show a roof extension around 15 metres high and about five metres higher than existing Amcor rooflines.

Although Amcor is on a trading estate, Coun Roberts said the building with the raised roof might be visible from nearby residential properties.

Coun Peter Watts, chairman of the town's planning sub-committee said he had spoken to the Herefordshire Council planning department this week and thought the height of the proposed extension was unlikely to be a problem.

He said that it was his personal view that the Amcor expansion was good for the town. Coun Watts said: "If we get a few more firms like that coming in, I'll be happy".