LEDBURY Parish Church wants to double its number of volunteer stewards to help cope with the thousands of visitors who make a beeline for the historic medieval building each year.

St Michael and all Angels needs around 60 stewards for the forthcoming tourist season, but currently it only has half that number, and each one is a member of the congregation.

But now, for the first time, the church is looking for stewards from the wider Ledbury community, whether or not they attend church.

Ian Beer, the president of the Friends of the Church, the group responsible for looking after visitors said: "Traditionally we have always used church goers to act as stewards welcoming visitors from all over the world.

"We have decided to open this out to anyone in the town who would like to act in this capacity. It is not onerous but quite fun as you meet an amazing number of people."

Mr Beer said: "Ideally we require about sixty stewards to man three sessions per day, seven days a week for seven months. At present we have about half that number."

Mr Beer added: "Ledbury is extremely fortunate to have a most distinguished parish church in the centre of the town. It is 1000 years old; possesses admirable stained-glass, brilliant stonework and a superb copy of Leonardo da Vinci's ‘Last Supper’ painted by Ledbury artist, Thomas Ballard, in 1824.

"The Sanctuary light in the East wall is, as far as we know, the only one to be seen in the entire country. No wonder over 12,000 visitors come to see all this, and they come from all over the world."

The Rector, the Reverend Keith Hilton-Turvey, said: "The more smiling faces our visitors meet in our building will help to show those, who have travelled so far, that the town cares as much as they do."

The church office can be contacted on 01531 631531.