Ledbury's Market House will cease to be a place where marriages can take place, unless something is done to make it meet incoming disabled access regulations.

That is the warning from the town's superintendent registrar, June McQuaid, who said: "It's a very popular venue. People ask to be married in the Market House, not realising it is the register office. All that could stop. I think it would be very sad."

At present, the Market House is the venue for around 50 weddings a year, but under the disabled access regulations, set to come into force in 2004, all buildings used by the public must offer disabled access where possible.

Mrs McQuaid, who is also the town clerk, said there had been cases already where, because of the wooden stairs into the Market House, elderly guests had to remain in the street while weddings took place in the room above.

On other occasions, St John Ambulance crews have had to carry disabled guests upstairs.