Ironically, the grot-spot campaign comes as Ledbury was named as one of the 12 best market towns in the country, in Country Living magazine.

Ledbury was featured with a picture of the Market House and an account by associate editor Louise Elliott.

She said: "Ledbury has it all, historic buildings, quirky shops, cobbled alleyways and some of Britain's loveliest farmlands and orchards. It has the perfect market town atmosphere - lived in, laid back and never la-di-da."

Other winners include Ludlow, Marlborough, Wells, Arundel and Stamford.