THE director of GCHQ has visited Hereford – but not for any reason related to government communications.

Sir Jeremy Fleming, the director of the Cheltenham-based GCHQ, the UK's intelligence, cyber and security agency, visited Hereford Cathedral.

The cathedral said the boss, who used to work at the domestic counter-intelligence and security agency MI5, visited as part of his work for BBC Radio 4.

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There, he visited the Mappa Mundi. The 13th-century masterpiece, housed at Hereford Cathedral, recorded how medieval scholars interpreted the world both spiritually and geographically.

Hereford Times: Sir Jeremy visited the Mappa Mundi at Hereford CathedralSir Jeremy visited the Mappa Mundi at Hereford Cathedral

Sir Fleming visited the map as he explored the opportunities and risks of data as he took up the role of a guest editor of BBC Radio 4's Today programme over Christmas.

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"It was a fascinating morning for all involved," the cathedral said.

University of Birmingham researcher Chris Rouse also featured on the radio as the show looked at how maps represent data.

The programme, which aired on Thursday, can be listened to on BBC iPlayer.