LIBERAL Democrat leader Charles Kennedy applauded the sense of community that residents had created on a Hereford housing estate, writes

CATHERINE SHOVLIN.

On his visit to the county on Friday, he popped into the Newton Farm Advice Centre and listened to development worker Howard Owens, South Wye community co-ordinator Sarah Fishbourne and councillors discuss the success of the programme.

Councillor John Newman, who lived on the estate and represented the Belmont ward, spoke of the issues volunteers at the centre addressed, such as drugs, noise and abandoned cars.

"We seem to be having better success than the council," he told Mr Kennedy, adding that people were now coming from up to 20 miles away to make use of the service.

Focusing on the county, when questioned on the bypass issue, Mr Kennedy said Hereford MP Paul Keetch was incessantly 'banging his ear' and he, in turn, incessantly 'banged the ear of Government'.

He said Herefordshire was one of the party's prime constituencies and encouraged people to vote, even if it was not for the Liberal Democrats.

During his visit, Mr Kennedy had been to see retiring Ross councillor Jim Russell, who was very ill, and met local Liberal Democrat councillors.