LEDBURY people are backing the bunting which has been put up in the town centre to mark the Queen's birthday.

The 1,000m of 'Union Jack' bunting has also been put up for the county celebration of Armed Forces Day.

But other residents have expressed reservations about the quality of the bunting, amid fears that it looks too "cheap and cheerful".

Armed Forces Day, on Saturday June 25, will be the first time that the county celebration has been held outside Hereford, and Ledbury has been chosen for the honour.

Organisers expect up to 7,000 people to be in the town centre on that day, for attractions including a parade by the Guard and Colours of HMS Ledbury and detachments from the county’s Sea, Army and Air Cadets, accompanied by the West Mercia Fire Service Band and the Royal British Legion County Rally.

The council's decision to buy in the bunting caused controversy in April, when Cllr Liz Harvey made a plea that no red, white and blue bunting should be bought, because similar bunting had upset Irish visitors to the town, during the Olympic year of 2012.

However, the town council voted to go ahead with the national theme.

Some residents claimed the bunting looked "cheap" but others saying it made the heart of town look "lovely" and "cheerful" in the right way on social media sites this week.

Many local residents were simply content to see the bunting up.

Andrew Findlay said: " It looks cheerful and celebratory. I would personally prefer fabric as it looks better but would rather have it as it is than nothing. The colours are irrelevant to me, they could be red, gold and green and I would still like them."

And resident Sam Jones said: "Well done to those who have taken time out to put it up and it's especially good to see it extended to the Homend as well."

Resident Pauline Powell spoke of the significance of the bunting.

She said: "We all seem to forget the red white and blue bunting is to celebrate our Queen's 90th birthday and Armed Forces Day: no matter how big, small, plastic or material the flags are, let's remember what they represent. Our troops fought under this great flag and many did not return."

But some residents expressed reservations about the quality of the bunting.

Resident Pam Wildig said: "It's nice to see it up, but it does look a little cheap. I wonder how much it cost? I'm sure you can get that sort of bunting from Poundshop - probably for £1 a string."

Resident Claire Ellis said: "The council allowed £500 for it. I hope it didn't cost any more than £20."

And resident Jayne Limb said: "Personally I think the bunting looks cheap. It will last no more than one season before it's in tatters and needs to come down. Quite a waste of money for a bit of polythene."

Cllr Bob Barnes, a member of the town's 1916 Herefordshire Centenary Committee, which is organising Armed Forces Day, said the bunting was under £500, is rayon not plastic and half of it had been bought from a local supplier.

He said: "We hope it will be long lasting. We have obtained the best value we could for the quantity we required. We could only do our best with the limited budget we had, and I believe we've done a good job."