A SHOP owner has raised concerns about Herefordshire Council "losing its identity" as he struggled to report a highways issue.

William Ellender, who runs City Electrics in Catherine Street, Hereford said the council has become "faceless".

When he became fed up with the state of the pavement outside his shop front in Newmarket Street, he decided to report it to the council.

But he said he found it difficult to find the right person to speak to and the problem wasn't addressed for months.

Mr Ellender said: "It doesn't matter what number they give you, you end up at the call centre in the old Franklin Barnes building.

"You are then in the hands of whoever works the telephone and it depends how they interpret it, which then depends on what service you get.

"I think the thing that worries me most is the council has lost its identity."

Balfour Beatty Living Places, which is contracted by Herefordshire Council to maintain highways, said the area outside Mr Ellender's shop is hand swept and monitored daily.

A spokesman added: "The council’s customer services team deals with queries relating to all council services and the request for sweeping was received by Balfour Beatty and acted upon.”