A GROUP of enthusiastic tourism businesses from Ross-on-Wye and surrounding areas, including Whitchurch and Symonds Yat, met to discuss ideas for promoting their area.

The meeting was led by Ros Hammant of the Regional Centre for Tourism Business Support and Bobbie Heavens, managing director of the Association for the Promotion of Herefordshire - the county Tourism Association.

She said: "We are endeavouring to present opportunities for all businesses in the area to come together and be pro-active in an ever more demanding and competitive market place."

Brochures, websites, signage and the importance of tourism to the local economy were discussed.

A research questionnaire was being prepared and would be circulated to a core group for each of them to engage at least a further 10 businesses in a chain-effect in the south of the county.

Anyone interested in joining the chain should contact Bobbie Heavens on 01432 370546 or email bobbie@aphtourism.co.uk