LEDBURY businesses are picking up the phone and offering to help with the town's messy roundabout problem.

In fact, following concerns raised on the front page of Reporter, only two of the five roundabouts on the bypass are now unkempt and in need of attention, ahead of the Ledbury in Bloom judging day on July 17.

Countrywide tidied up the Ross Road roundabout last Friday, resuming a service which the community-minded business had provided faithfully and well for two decades, until earlier this year.

Clive Gunn, chairman of Ledbury in Bloom said of Countywide's public-spirited actions: "It goes without saying that I am delighted at the new look of the Ross Road roundabout.

"A number of new local businesses have been in contact with Ledbury Town Council asking for details of how to apply to take over a roundabout."

Mr Gunn said of this year's Ledbury in Bloom Campaign: "On top of their regular main areas, The Walled Garden and Queen's Walk, our volunteers will be targeting the main roads in the centre of town over the last days. Extra hands are always helpful. "Friends, Ledburians, Countrymen, lend me your trowels!"

Andy Easthope, manager of the Countrywide store in Ledbury, off the Dymock Road, said that although Countrywide had decided not to take on the Ross Road roundabout earlier this year, it had decided to act now because "it was in such a state".

He added: "We were always happy to do it, until the town council asked us for planting schedules and maintenance schemes. Looking after the roundabout is part of being in the local community.

"Now we will continue to maintain the roundabout until someone tells us to stop."

Mr Easthope said "a little bit of bureaucracy caused the problem".

Ledbury's mayor, Cllr Elaine Fieldhouse revealed last week that the town council was talking to local businesses about the roundabouts.

The licences to take on the roundabouts are actually issued by Herefordshire Council, with the involvement of the town council.

Cllr Fieldhouse said the town council was working with the county council on the wording of those licences, "to make them sound more attractive".