HEREFORDSHIRE businesses held a World Cafe as part of their aim to reduce energy use and help turn around the county's economy.

Ideas stemming from the Courtyard Theatre event included redeveloping the city's Butter Market into a local food outlet, along with getting children involved in recycling issues, and making sure the Edgar Street Grid (ESG) is a good example of sustainable development.

Herefordshire Greenlinks staged the event, which included roundtable discussions on how to develop a vibrant local economy in the face of issues such as rising energy costs, the credit crunch and increasing competition from out-of- town shopping complexes.

And a new group was formed on the day featuring seven small businesses who all agreed to cooperate with each other providing mutual support and encouragement.