A CAMPAIGN to name Ledbury grot-spots has been launched by conservationists in a bid to get the town's environment cleared up.

As well as targeting vandalised phone boxes, bus shelters and broken benches, the campaign will also put obtrusive road signs, advertising boards and unnecessary rural road markings in the firing line.

Local people will be invited to enter photographs of grot-spots into a competition. A selection of the best examples will be mounted in the window of the Tourist Information Centre, more traditionally used for promoting the town.

The campaign is supported by the Ledbury Civic Society and the local branch of the Council for the Protection of Rural England.

Photographic competition organiser, Cyril Stone, the CPRE branch chairman and member of the civic society, said: "The aim is to see Ledbury and district play its part to restore dignity and character to our historic streets and to reduce the clutter of signs and markings on our rural roads.

"It is hoped that this will stimulate similar action in other parts of the county."

Last year, pressure from the civic society resulted in Herefordshire Council removing redundant road sign poles in Ledbury.

Mr Stone denied that the intention was to 'name and shame' and added that balance was sought on issues like advertising boards.

Details of the campaign were finalised last week at a meeting involving the CPRE, civic society, Malvern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty representatives, the Eastnor Castle estate and the Ledbury Area Cycle Forum.

The closing date for entries into the photographic competition will be May 31. They should be posted through the letter-box of the Burgage Hall. The best will go on show in the second half of June.

The overall winner will get a bottle of Champagne.