VOLUNTEERS have got rid of "dead shrubs and carpets of weeds" which have been greeting visitors to Hereford.

Hereford in Bloom has restored flowerbeds near Morrisons on the City Link Road, which they say are the first thing people see when leaving the train station opposite.

"When Herefordshire Council built the new link road between Edgar Street and Commercial Road in Hereford three large beds were created on the roadside in front of Morrison’s store and planted with shrubs," said George Thomas, of Hereford in Bloom.

"The beds are the first thing thousands of travellers arriving at Hereford railway station see and for several years they have been welcomed to the city by dead shrubs and carpets of weeds.

He added: "The volunteers of Hereford in Bloom have now restored the beds and planted them with a selection of 400 shrubs paid for by a grant from the city council. They already care for all the beds and planters in the city centre and water through the summer.

Rob Taylor, a retired London Parks worker and a Ross-on-Wye town councillor chose the shrubs and the layout.

The Bloom team, led by Paul Hodges, were joined by Mr Taylor and friends from Ross-on-Wye, volunteers of Hereford Community Clean Up Group, three Balfour Beatty workers, and a worker from Hereford Business Improvement District.