AN expected "funding gap" of £28m between now and 2019/2020 means Herefordshire Council is looking to make more cuts.

And the county council is also look for ideas and help from the community, to help balance the books.

Only a few weeks remain for the residents of Herefordshire to have their say in this year's budget consultation.

The consultation runs until Friday October 7 and the council is asking residents for their views to help set future budgets.

It is also asking what residents might be able to do to help support their local communities.

In Ledbury, the Heritage Centre, once run by Herefordshire Council, has already been under the wing of the Ledbury Civic Society for the past three years, and this year Ledbury Town Council took on extra grass-cutting duties, in the face of Herefordshire Council reductions.

Cllr Tony Johnson, leader of Herefordshire Council, said: “All councils across the country need to significantly reduce their budgets and make unprecedented changes to services because of substantial reductions in government funding and Herefordshire Council is no different.

"From 2010 to the end of 2015/16, we delivered savings of £59million, but we must deliver further savings in order to balance our budget."

Cllr Johnson added: "We provide numerous services and spend around £328million annually, but with the reductions in government funding, we have a funding gap of £28million between now and 2019/20. We want to hear from residents with ideas on how we can improve, whether that’s through the use of new technology, changing the way we do things or by working with other organisations, community groups or charities.”

To participate in the consultation visit www.herefordshire.gov.uk/haveyoursay or complete a form at any Herefordshire library or customer service centre. Alternatively, send a Facebook message to hfdscouncil, Tweet #hfdsbudget .

All results will be published on the Herefordshire Council website later in the year.