A NEW library is to be developed in Ledbury after almost £3 million of funding was agreed.

Herefordshire Council is investing £2.9 million, over the next two years, which will see an extension built between the Master's House and St Katherine's Barn. The new library will be accessible to all and will contain the recently moved Tourist Information Centre, and Info in Herefordshire.

The community of Ledbury has been working hard to achieve this goal with a newly formed Master's House Action Group and a Friends of the Master's House group.

Chairman of the action group Humphrey Britton-Johnson said: "This has been long awaited and a sensational result for Ledbury. The town and surrounding areas deserve a library that is welcoming, friendly and with modern facilities that compliment the Master's House, which has been empty or underused for so long. It will bring visitors and residents alike to an area of the town which will be a model of how old and new can exist together."

The Friends group would welcome any further members. Both groups are working as catalysts in the development process.

Work will begin on archaeologically survey in June to assess the potential archaeological significance of the site.