Bromyard'S town crier Peter Dauncey will now also act as town councillor.

The Euroheat salesman won a seat on Bromyard Town Council with 302 votes at a by-election last Thursday.

He beat Bernard Hunt, who claimed 217 votes, and Andrew Pack, who came in third with 199 votes.

Mr Dauncey, husband of present mayor Joan Dauncey, is expected to be sworn into his new post at the next meeting of the town council at 7.30pm on Monday.

He said he was very pleased to win the seat but was surprised at the size of his majority.

Having got a taste for electoral success, Mr Dauncey is now planning to stand for election to Herefordshire Council in May.

His wife Joan will also be standing for election in the Bringsty ward.

Speaking of the relationship between the town council and unitary authority, Mr Dauncey said: "Often there has been a them and us situation and it shouldn't exist. Town and county should work more closely together for the benefit of Bromyard."

Mr Dauncey expressed hope that the number of voters in the next round of town and council elections on May 1 would increase from previous years. While the turnout at the by-election last week was 23.2 per cent, a new system of all postal voting is hoped to attract a much larger number.

The system will mean that all those eligible to vote will be sent ballot papers up to two weeks before the election, which they will have to return by post.