Ledbury Community Hospital plans to clamp cars not belonging to staff, patients or visitors to the Market Street facility.

Owner Shaw Healthcare, which also owns the unadopted road, has installed a gate at the New Street end to stop drivers using it as a short cut.

A letter from Shaw's property services director Alan Savery to Ledbury Town Council says it plans to launch a clamp-down on "unauthorised" parking in Market Street. Both Shaw and the council fear such parking could create a hazard for pedestrians leaving or entering the hospital.

Mr Savery said: "Our staff frequently 'police' the parking and challenge unauthorised people. However, many just ignore the situation, park where they choose and go shopping.

"We're consulting with a private company to manage the facility, with a view to introducing additional measures such as charges and clamping."