AN official tourist information centre is returning to Hereford after the city has been without one for three years.

The new centre will be in the Butter Market in High Town and is a collaboration between Visit Herefordshire, Hereford City Council and Liz Hill, owner of Rural Concierge travel company.

The Tourist Information Centre (TIC) in King Street closed in December 2010.

The space was then occupied by the Visit Herefordshire group, which then moved to Hereford Town Hall, when Herefordshire Council said they were unable to make further funding available for the organisation.

Andy Black, tourism officer at Visit Herefordshire, said: “This is a big win both for us and the city council. It will enable us to concentrate on our core activities of promoting the county to the rest of the country and the international visitor market.

“We currently organise press visits and provide content for print and digital media, but we will now have more opportunity to organise high profile events including music and film.

“We have also been working closely with our distributor, Glide Media, to increase the number of information points available throughout the county, including a new display area in De Koffie Pot. With new city signage due to be installed by Hereford BID this will mark a new era in tourism for the city.”

The new TIC, which will be at the Rural Concierge stand, will be officially opened by the Mayor of Hereford on October 21 at 11am.

Steve Kerry, town clerk for the City of Hereford, said: “The city council was horrified when the former TIC closed so abruptly just before Three Choirs week in Hereford.

"We have been very pleased to work with Rural Concierge and the new owners of the Butter Market to support this new venture."

Ms Hill said she is looking forward to being able to "officially" share her local knowledge and skills.

She added: "Since operating a voluntary service for two years, we have received vital feedback to prove just how important it is to run a successful tourism hub within Hereford City Centre. Providing this facility encourages visitors to stay for longer and therefore spend more money in our local economy.”