Andy Ward, manager of The Talbot Hotel, has returned from a trip to Romania, where he used money raised in Ledbury to buy food and clothes for needy families.

Mr Ward spent a fortnight on holiday in the East European country with his Romanian-born wife, Maria.

They took £400 raised by the sale of a photograph taken by Mr Ward and spent it helping the poorer people in a remote village called Topoli, which still lacks running water.

Mr Ward said: "There's not a lot of help from the top end of Government because people are not shouting.

"This way, we could get help to the people who need it."

Proceeds from the sale of Mr Ward's photograph of the Ledbury Hunt, taken last Boxing Day, were added to those from a specially organised Burn's Night event in Ledbury.

Mr Ward said: "I'd just like to thank people who supported the fundraising."

The couple plan to return to Romania and are considering further fundraising projects.

Mr Ward said that the orphanages he saw were well sponsored and well run and the decision was taken to help children in the village, where life can be a struggle for many families.

He said: "We bought food and clothes for the kids and they were so pleased."