THE Mayor of Ledbury has banned Old MacDonald Had a Farm from his own charity show - in case it offends farmers.

It was to have been performed during the Mayor's concert at St Michael's and All Angels Church in Ledbury this Friday evening.

Clive Jupp said he asked for the song to be scratched from the list out of sympathy for rural communities stricken by the foot-and-mouth crisis.

"It's a happy song, but some people have seen their life's work destroyed in an afternoon," said the Mayor.

"We want to do the right thing by farmers and have no wish to offend anybody."

The song had been billed as a highlight of the show.

But the choir, the Gloucestershire-based Stuart Singers, had voiced concerns about including the song in the concert, which starts at 7.30pm.

Gordon Gilbert, a former chairman of the NFU in Herefordshire, called the action an "appropriate response".

"It would have been a bit near the bone," he said.