MEMBERS of the Mormon Heritage Association arrived in Ledbury on Bank Holiday Monday afternoon, and received a rousing welcome from town crier, Clive "Big Ben" Gunn.

Mr Gunn said: "They were making their annual visit following in the footsteps of their founding fathers many of whom came from this area. The members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, whom we know as The Mormons, hold arguably the world’s largest heritage database so several members of the 40 strong party had proven direct links to this area.

"Both Brigham Young and William Woodruff, leaders of the movement at the time, preached under the Market House in the 1870’s and only a few miles from Ledbury the brethren gathered regularly at Gadfield Elm Church near Pendock. The mass emigration to the USA from around the world was to establish Zion, the name for their new promised land which we know better today as Salt Lake City."

Mr Gunn added: "It is believed that up to 2000 people left this area never to return. As it was a Bank Holiday they could not access all of Ledbury’s Heritage sites and were starved of Ledbury mementoes but they particularly enjoyed the various pleasures of Church Lane and especially The Flower Festival in St. Michael’s Church."

Mr Gunn, who is also chairman of Ledbury in Bloom, welcomed the party on behalf of The Town Council and the people of Ledbury.

He had penned a specially written cry which finished with the phrase “Welcome Home, to the members of The Mormon Heritage Association.”