"LEDBURY Town Council members are going into battle again next week against pigeons which constantly plague the 17th-century Market House in the town centre," said the Ledbury Reporter 25 years ago.

"On Monday, the councillors are meeting at the battle zone to consider suggestions made to thwart once and for all pigeons which perch, roost and nest on the Market House.

"A pest control company has suggested the council use a bird repellent gel on window ledges, sloping drainpipes and roofing. It says the mobile gel will make the birds feel insecure when they land, so they will hastily take off again.

"The company also suggests using black netting which would be invisible against the Market House's black beams.

"But the Market House's architect and restoration expert, Mr Freddy Charles, has told the town council the gel is not a good idea because it dries to a sticky, jammy mess which collects traffic grime and makes renovation extremely difficult, if not impossible.

"He suggests using galvanised netting, black eaves board and sloping weather boards to stop pigeons settling on the buildings. Mr Charles also believes horizontal drainpipes should be re-routed to become sloping or vertical, so pigeons would find landing difficult."

Meanwhile, members of the town's chamber of commerce were hoping to boost Ledbury's trade. They had written to Malvern Hills District Council asking for the car parks to be made free. But they were divided as to whether a road should be built between New Street and Bye Street, to stop lorries turning at the Top Cross.