Ledbury Town Council is back to full strength after the biggest co-option of members for at least 20 years.

Seven people were invited to join the authority, filling the gaps left by a shortage of candidates at the elections on May 1.

Town clerk June McQuaid said: "We've never had seven vacancies before in my time as clerk, going back two decades."

There were ten candidates to be considered by existing councillors at a meeting at the Market House last Thursday (May 29), although one dropped out at the last minute.

Mayor Keith Francis said: "We had a very strong field and all the people who made presentations showed commitment to the community.

"I think we have a range of talent on the new council to face the challenges of the year ahead."

One of the most pressing issues facing the council is what to do with the Grade I listed Market House in the light of the incoming disabled access regulations.

Several candidates mentioned the Market House issue as one reason for putting their names forward.

Some are already well known faces in the community, including Catharine Luck, who in October 2001 ran a campaign for better water quality after the Welsh Water supply was contaminated with harmless but earthy-tasting algal bloom.

The other new councillors are lawyer Mary Cooper, former president of the Leadon Vale Lions Derek Cursons, Dr Kay Swinburne, Ean Davies, Lillian Farley and Ledbury Primary School governor Amanda Nicholl.

Mrs Nicholl, who was away on a family holiday, was elected in her absence with six votes.

The two unsuccessful candidates were Elizabeth Bendle and Tony Bradford.

Mr Bradford, who received two votes, said: "I'm very disappointed. How can you elect someone who wasn't even there? People on the housing association estates in Ledbury are not represented and we need to be."

Coun Francis said the council had spoken to Mrs Nicholl beforehand. He expressed the hope that the two unsuccessful candidates would consider standing again.

Mr Bradford said he had already collected enough signatures to enable him to stand at the next election in four years' time.