A WARM welcome has been given to six Herefordshire residents who have become British citizens.

Lady Darnley, the county's lord lieutenant, was joined by the vice chairman for Herefordshire Council, Bob Preece, in congratulating the group at a special ceremony at the Town Hall.

The six, which include two from New Zealand, two from Thailand, one Romanian and one Ecuadorian, needed to attain a number of requirements including successful passes in a Life in the UK test and an English exam to gain citizenship.

The long process also sees applicants spend thousands of pounds on visa applications before they can apply for citizenship.