A 32 year old man has been arrested in Hereford on suspicion of attempted murder following an incident in which a woman was seriously injured. The arrest followed an incident which occured at approximately 2pm on Friday, 11th April at a flat in Widemarsh Street, Hereford, in which a woman received serious injuries. She was treated at the scene and taken to hospital by ambulance crews where she remains. Her injuries were extremely serious but are not thought to be life threatening.

The man was arrested at Hereford Railway station just before 6pm on Friday and taken to Leominster Police Station for questioning.

Police have thanked the public for their assistance and vigilance during the search for this man.

When Claire Rouse left school, her mother insisted she got herself a proper career, so she became a secretary but never felt happy doing that type of work. A few years later, Claire went back to school to discuss possible careers with her former headmistress and social work was suggested, a decision which many people in Herefordshire were later to benefit from.

Claire, 65, is to retire in April, having spent the past 29 years as a social worker in Herefordshire. Married to Don and with three children and a grandson, Claire says she has thoroughly enjoyed her time as a social worker in the county. 'I really feel I was born to be a social worker and ever since I qualified by gaining my Certificate in Social Work I have never thought about doing anything else,' she said. 'I have had an awful lot of fun and feel privileged to have enjoyed my job so much and to have worked with so many wonderful people across the council and within partner organizations,'

Claire moved to Herefordshire from Liverpool when her husband had to move for his job. She had been a social worker in Liverpool where she mainly worked in the city's hospitals. She became a social worker for the then Hereford and Worcester County Council and couldn't believe how nice Hereford was with all its greenery and no homes with boarded up windows. Claire's first post in the county was generic, which meant she could be called upon to deal with anything.

When new legislation was brought in during 1993, Claire was able to specialize in helping adults with learning difficulties and in 1997 she joined an integrated mental health team based at St Owen's Street, Hereford, to work with people with mental health problems.

Claire has found all of the changes exciting and has been able to keep learning all of the time. The current team she works with includes medical staff as well as social workers, so she has found it interesting to see how the two areas can work together to help people lead better lives.

Claire is now looking forward to retirement and being able to spend more time gardening and walking. She is an active member of her local church in Peterchurch and is also a bell ringer and member of a choir. Claire said that she will keep busy and is looking forward to being able to visit her grandson, Stan, who lives in Canada.

Geoff Hughes, Herefordshire Council's Director of Adult and Community Services, said, 'Claire has been a magnificent member of our social work team and has adapted well to the many changes that have taken place during her long career. She will be very much missed by both her colleagues and clients and I am sure she will enjoy a happy and much deserved retirement.'

Herefordshire Council has launched a new out-of-hours service to enable people to view electronically their council tax banding or business rates on their home or property.

The new 'self service' system, provided by the council's benefits and exchequer service, also helps claimants to access details of their own housing or council tax benefit entitlement online. Landlords also will have access to information about housing benefits payments that are paid directly to them on behalf of tenants who are entitled to the benefit.

The service has been developed to provide customers with more accessible information. Taxpayers can check securely their individual charges for different financial years, along with any available discounts or exemptions that have been granted, and view their future payment schedules. They can also search for council tax bandings.

To protect the security of information, access to the service can only be gained using an account number or claim number along with a password. The information will be accessed by easy to use, menu driven web pages on the council's web site.

'As the service is available online customers will no longer be restricted to contacting the office to resolve queries during office hours,' said Mike Toney, head of benefits and exchequer services. 'Self service will be available twenty four hours a day, every day of the year.'

Ten Herefordshire residents have won prizes in a competition organized by the joint waste prevention team of Herefordshire and Worcestershire Councils.

The ten winners correctly answered a quiz in the Mission Impossible News that was sent out with the Herefordshire Matters magazine in February. The four page newsletter was jam packed with articles and tips aimed at helping people reduce, reuse and recycle their household waste. Contestants were asked to name five ways of reducing waste, with clues from a drawing. The winners were among hundreds of people who entered the competition to win a range of waste busting goodies including a Bosch Shredder and a food waste disposer.

The star prize was a family trip to the Eden Project in Cornwall and a night's accommodation for two adults and 4 children, which was won by Amanda Bailey of Hereford, who said, 'I'm delighted we entered the competition. We already recycle a lot of our waste but we now plan to try to reduce the amount of rubbish that we make in the first place.'

Other winners were, Mrs Jayne Unwin of Bromyard, Anne O'Brien of Pembridge, Susan Stone of Ledbury, Christine Price of Hereford, Mrs Salter of Leominster, Mrs Walcott of Ledbury, Miss Newth of Hereford, Mrs Harrison of Weobley and Elizabeth Alty of Bircher.

For more information on how to reduce your waste visit www.wastemissionimpossible.org.uk or telephone 01905 766883.

Young people in Ledbury can try a huge range of traditional and alternative sports including kickboxing, over the next 12 weeks thanks to the council's youth service.

Following discussions with young people at Ledbury Youth Centre and the neighbouring John Masefield High School, the youth service and Ledbury Youth First have put together a unique programme of sporting events with funding from Awards for All. Although the programme has only just begun, mountain biking, kayaking and archery sessions have already proved to be a great success.

Over the next few weeks 11-19 year olds will have the chance to try kickboxing, dodge ball, golf and cheer leading as well as more traditional activities like table tennis and volleyball.

During half term there will be a unique opportunity to attend a day long Street Dance workshop by Urban Edge and they can look forward to mountain boarding in Cradley and climbing in Gloucester, once the new half term begins in June.

All of the events are free and involve local professionals providing tuition. Transport is also provided where necessary.

The events will runs as follows:

Wednesday, 23rd April - Kickboxing,
Wednesday, 30th April - Archery,
Wednesday, 7th May - Dodge ball,
Wednesday, 14th May - Golf at the Hereford Golf Academy,
Wednesday, 21st May - Cheer leading

During half term, on Wednesday, 28th May, there will be a day long street dance workshop between 10am and 4pm.

Wednesday, 4th June - Climbing in Gloucester,
Wednesday, 11th June - Mountain boarding in Cradley,
Wednesday, 25th June - Table tennis,
Wednesday, 25th June - ultimate frisbee
Wednesday, 2nd July - Volleyball.

There is a possibility of a further kayaking course to take place in July.

Councillor Jenny Hyde, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said, 'The council is working hard with its partners to improve the range of positive activities available to the county's young people. This twelve week project sounds great fun. It offers a range of activities that will appeal to a broad audience. Not everyone is into traditional sports, so I'm delighted to see alternatives such as cheer leading and mountain boarding on the menu.

The fact that the young people have been involved in deciding which events they'd like to have a go at is great too. I hope that newcomers will take the opportunity to participate in some of the activities and meet new people.'

Although the events are free it is advisable to book, so if you would like to take part, telephone Pippa on 01432 261589 or Sabrina on 01531 636611.

Four members of staff from Herefordshire Division have been rewarded for their dedication and commitment to servicing criminal justice within the county.

The four, who all work as part of the Safety and Justice Department at Hereford Police Station, were presented with certificates in recognition of performance delivery at a recent meeting of the West Mercia Criminal Justice Board, held at the Left Bank in Hereford.

Ken Rock was praised for his tireless efforts as a Warrant Officer for the division, while Identification Officers, Tony Charles and PC Alan Link were thanked for their contribution for making the unit at Hereford one of the top performing in the area. In particular they were praised for their work in introducing the PROMAT electronic identification system, which has replaced traditional ‘live’ ID parades and proved invaluable in securing increased numbers of convictions.

Inspector Paul Crow, meanwhile, was thanked for his leadership of the department, which has been recognised nationally as beacon of outstanding performance for criminal justice delivery.

All four were presented with their awards by West Mercia’s Assistant Chief Constable, Peter Wright.

As part of this year's Herefordshire Walking Festival, Old King Street Farm are giving the public two opportunities to go walking with llamas. The first of these will be on Saturday, 14th June and the other, Saturday, 21st June.

Robert Dewar of Old King Street Farm, which runs the llama treks, said, 'Llamas are members of the camel family. They love to accompany people on walks through the south Herefordshire countryside but, as pack animals, they are not ridden. They need mental stimulus but make great pets and are good fun.

Our treks start by us calling the llamas into the penning area where they are given some special feed, haltered, groomed and then ready to walk. The llamas will accompany walkers through the farm's fields and down the hill into the village, then they return to the farmyard where they are rewarded with more food.'

Llamas originate from South America, but those at Old King Street Farm were born in England. The males, all have distinctive personalities and love new experiences. There are also five females, three of which are due to give birth in June. The oldest three may also join in some of the walks.

The cost of a walk is £10 per adult and children go free. The minimum recommended age for children is eight. Herefordshire Walking Festival runs from Saturday, 14th June to Sunday, 22nd June, is sponsored by M&M Direct of Leominster and offers 59 walks throughout the county. For further details of the walks on offer log onto the website at www.walkingfestival.com or telephone the Tourist Information Centre at Queenswood on 01568 797842.

''I See a Person’ is a poetry publication which has been produced by Age Concern Herefordshire & Worcestershire. The publication was launched on Monday, 31st March 2008, at the offices of Age Concern Leominster and District, 30 West Street, Leominster. The launch was attended by The Mayor of Leominster, Councillor Brettina Meadows.

The publication is an anthology of the winning entries of either the Herefordshire or Worcestershire ‘I See a Person’ poetry competitions, or the poems were produced as part of the ‘Celebration of Experience’ creative writing workshops held at The Priory Centre, Leominster. These workshops combined the experience of writers from Leominster Writer’s group, with the enthusiasm and creative work of students from The Priory Centre.

All poems celebrate and highlight the positive aspects of ageing. Both of the Herefordshire projects have been funded by Herefordshire Learning and Skills Council, and have been kindly supported by Age Concern Leominster and District.

If you would like a copy of ‘I See a Person’, please contact Jim Smith on 01905 726652 or email jsmith@achw.org.uk.

Another person has been charged with metal theft as part of West Mercia Constabulary's Project Livewire campaign.

A 31 year old man from Leominster was charged yesterday following an incident on 30th January this year when officers were called to a scrap yard in Hereford.

The man has been released on police bail and is due to appear at Hereford magistrates court on Wednesday, 23rd April.

Project Livewire was launched last summer and there have been at least 85 arrests since the start of the initiative. Police have been working with other agencies to tackle metal theft and warn the public about the growing problem of valuable metals such as copper and steel being targeted.

Part of the initiative involves officers visiting scrap yards and checking records, as well as encouraging businesses to be licensed.

If you have information for police about metal theft call West Mercia Constabulary on 08457 444888. If you wish to make an anonymous call please ring Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Plans to convert a former mill in Leominster into nine apartments were approved by members of the northern area planning subcommittee at their meeting on last week.

The application was deferred at the meeting on Wednesday, 12th March 2008 for a site visit to be carried out as the site is within the conservation area.

Plans are to convert the original mill building into three residential apartments and demolish all other buildings attached to the mill. A new three storey block will then be built to house six further apartments.

Network Rail, the Ramblers Association and The River Lugg Drainage Board had no objection in principle and Herefordshire Council's conservation manager recommended approval subject to certain conditions.

The council's Public Rights of Way manager said the development would affect public footpath ZC137 and the department would want to be notified on construction of the path so site inspections can be made to ensure it is to the right specification.

Leominster Town Council recommended refusal as did Leominster Civic Society's chairman Robert Oliver, who said that the site was important but felt the scheme was over development

Leominster Rifle Club currently meets in the building to be demolished and was concerned about the club's future. A planning obligation is to be sought in respect of a financial contribution towards off-site play and sports facilities.

The site is identified in the Herefordshire Unitary Development Plan as being within an established residential area.

A whole range of entertaining fund raising events are going to take place in Leominster during the coming weeks. The events have been organized to raise money for a Wheel Sports Park in Leominster's Sydonia Park.

The popular Bromyard High School Steel Pans Band is booked to perform at Leominster's Royal British Legion Club 18th April at 7pm, with MC Peter McCall. Tickets are available from Fletchers Newsagents in advance, or by telephoning 01568 613118.

A family Bingo Night has been organized for Tuesday, 29th April, which will take place at the Community Centre in Church Street and a family Fun Day and Barbecue will take place at Sydonia Park on Monday, 26th May between 2pm and 5pm and will include a skateboard race.

If you would like to have a stall at the fun day a charge of £15 will be made to help boost the funds.

Please telephone Joan Thwaites on 01568 612768 for further information.

Members of the northern area planning subcommittee agreed at their meeting on Wednesday, 9th April to hold a site visit over plans for a change of use at Little Orchard Farm, Eardisland, into an international centre for birds of prey.

Members were told the centre would be open to the public and include a shop, educational visitor centre and cafeteria as well as offering the opportunity to view the birds, see flying demonstrations and learn about the origins, habits and care of birds of prey from around the world.

As part of the scheme there would be 14 aviaries, research buildings, a moulting barn, new vehicular access and car park, a toilet block, new entrance canopy to the visitor centre and a landscaping scheme.

The Environment Agency had no objections but wanted conditions imposed.

Herefordshire Council's conservation manager said the proposal is unique and presents a rare opportunity to create a designed landscape and gardens in conjunction with the avian collection.

Herefordshire Council's tourism officer supported the application because it would provide a much-valued venue for visitors and would be beneficial in economic terms by creating jobs.

Herefordshire Council's environmental health manager sought restrictions on hours of opening to protect neighbouring properties and Eardisland Parish Council supported the application.

Letters were received from eight residents expressing concerns about the development being too large for the village, visual impact, increased traffic and loss of amenities.

Three further letters acknowledged the centre's contribution to tourism in the area.

Plans to erect a polytunnel and shed for beekeeping use at Manley Field, Pembridge, were refused by members of the northern area planning subcommittee at their meeting on Wednesday, 9th April.

The proposal was refused because it was considered unacceptable due to its visual impact on the character, appearance and landscape quality of the surrounding conservation area.

The polytunnel was to be used in connection with a vegetable plot while the storage building would have been used for beehive storage, repair and storing implements.

Herefordshire Council's conservation manager said Manley Field is presently in the conservation area but did not feel the development would harm the special character of the area.

Pembridge Parish Council objected because the development would be detrimental to the visual impact at the entrance to the village.

Letters of objection were received from eight neighbours concerned at the visual impact the proposal would have on the area and feeling the land should remain in agricultural use.

A major shift in the way services to 16-64 year olds with mental and physical health disabilities in Herefordshire is on the cards.

The decision to overhaul the way services are delivered to around 30,000 people suffering from physical disabilities and mental health disorders was made by Herefordshire Council's cabinet when it met on Thursday, 10th April.

It means that on top of existing budgets, an extra £1.3 million will be ploughed into the services during the next three years to cover the transition between current services and more cost effective, more responsive, services by 2011.

Currently the county has around 4,600 people suffering from moderate physical disabilities with a further 950 suffering from serious physical disability. An estimated 18,000 18 to 64 year olds in the county suffer from depression and more common mental disorders, with an additional 4,650 having a personality disorder.

Cabinet members heard that while people with mental health disorders say services as a whole have improved, there were many aspects that leave a lot to be desired.

The report states that there needs to be improved communication between staff and sufferers, a round the clock access to secondary services and information, a refuge at times of crisis and better services for young people.

Users of services for people with physical disabilities cited similar needs as well as reduced waiting times, more flexible day opportunities and better services for those with acquired brain injury.

Cabinet also heard that there were major gaps in data used to predict estimates and that these gaps needed to be filled and estimates kept under review. Members of Cabinet agreed that the overhaul of services was necessary and that both the council and the PCT would move towards delivery of services which will:

· Support people better before they needed specialist secondary services
· Allow users a greater influence and control over the services they need
· Provide the majority of services in, or close to, people's homes and communities
· Do more to help people recover and stay well after they have received secondary services
· Significantly reduce the amount of services provided out of Herefordshire (particularly residential care)

The changes will also mean a substantial extension of direct payments and personal budgets, better support for carers, adjustments to the balance of PCT and council funding to achieve a single, shared set of commissioning targets, attracting significant additional funding from external sources and closer working with the third sector.

Councillor Olwyn Barnett, cabinet member for social care adults and health, thanked her fellow councillors on the health scrutiny committee and the adult social care and strategic housing scrutiny, who had considered the report and reinforced the fact that the underlying data was fragile and that there was a need to keep under review the adequacy of the new services and their resourcing.

A new health and social care watchdog with powers to inspect premises is about to be formed in Herefordshire. Herefordshire Council has just appointed the Carers Federation as the organization which will set up and help run the Local Involvement Network (LINk) .

The Link replaces the previous Public and Patient Involvement Forums and will, for the first time, be responsible not only for health but also social care and older people's issues. It will involve a wide range of Hereford people whose voices are seldom heard, like busy workers, children, people with disabilities, remote rural dwellers and ethnic minorities, to make sure they have their say in how services are run.

The Link will be able to enter premises and assess services, collect views of service users and expect responses when requests for information are made to committees and organizations.

The organization's first task will be to identify and engage a wide range of Link members and to support them in addressing Herefordshire's priority health and social care issues including those needing counselling support, and those affected by another person's drug misuse.

'We are delighted to have been able to appoint the Carers Foundation which has a wealth of relevant experience for carrying out the role,' said Councillor Olwyn Barnett, Herefordshire Council's cabinet member for social care adults and health. 'The bringing together of responsibilities to act as watchdog for health, social care and older people's issues, is welcomed particularly in Herefordshire where the council and the Herefordshire Primary Care Trust are already pioneering closer working relationships.'

The first steps towards the new Link will be to form a steering group, arrange stake holder meetings to recruit members, determine governance arrangements and decide a work programme.

Public and Patient Involvement Forums ceased operating on Monday, 31st March.

Anyone wanting to know more should contact Kath Soanes, LINks Operations Manager, on 07739 237452 or email k.soanes@carersfederation.co.uk.

Many public bodies are actively pursuing positive initiatives to promote bio diversity on their land, buildings, and in encouraging others in response to a new bio diversity duty placed upon them by national government.

This was the outcome of a seminar organized by Herefordshire Council at the Courtyard Theatre which was attended by representatives from many public organizations in Herefordshire and partners working with them.

Councillor John Jarvis, Herefordshire Council's cabinet member for the environment and strategic housing, said, 'We as a council must lead by example and ensure we are 'walking our talk'. Herefordshire has a high quality environment and it is important that we protect and enhance it. Knowing what others are doing can inspire us to broaden our activities in this area of the council's responsibilities, this event has given us much food for thought.'

The event was sponsored by Natural England and Councillor Jarvis added, 'We are grateful to Natural England for sponsoring the day and are pleased to work with them in particular as partners. Speakers at the event showed us what could be done in relation to highway land, parks and gardens and other land owned by public authorities'

Other issues covered at the event include what can be done by parish councils, the links between bio diversity and health, and works within Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Speakers included Conor Kretsch form the CoHab Initiative based in Galway, Geoff Richards from the Highways Agency (South West), representatives from Wildlife Trusts, Chris Jones from Telford & Wrekin Council, North Wales Police, Bill Bloxsome (Conservation Manager, Herefordshire Council) and the event was chaired by Michael Hainge, Director of Environment, Herefordshire Council.

The event was called to promote a new duty placed on public authorities by the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 (NERC) for public authorities to promote bio diversity conservation.

The new legislation requires that "every public authority must, in exercising its functions, have regard, so as is consistent with the proper exercise of those functions, to the purpose of conserving bio diversity". In addition there will be an International Bio diversity day, which will be held on Thursday, 22nd May, and Herefordshire Council is planning a series of guided walks and displays to promote this issue further.

Herefordshire Council's cabinet has agreed to allocate £751,000 in capital resources to spend on further refurbishment of Hereford city centre. Refurbishment of the city centre started in 2005 when £1¾ million was spent on improving High Street and High Town.

As part of the works, High Town was repaved, new lighting columns installed, street clutter cleared, new street furniture installed and the surroundings of the Old House enhanced.

The money now allocated will be used to refurbish Widemarsh Street to provide a pedestrian-friendly surface from High Town to Blue School Street.

Following cabinet's decision to allocate £750,000 to the project, along with £250,000 left over from the previous work carried out, it means the council now has £1 million for the works.

Councillor Brian Wilcox, Herefordshire Council's cabinet member for highways and transportation, said, 'Widemarsh Street is going to be an important link between the Edgar Street Grid retail quarter and High Town and, as such, it is crucial that shoppers can easily get from one to the other.

This scheme will build on what we have already done to make Hereford city centre a more welcoming and safe environment for shoppers. This is a real opportunity to ensure that visitors to the city centre have one seamless shopping experience; our aim is to integrate all vital elements of the city centre, those we have already and those that will be created through the EGS project, into one.'

It is hoped the scheme will be completed in 2009-2010.

The first year of the Real Nappy Incentive Scheme has been such a success that the anniversary has already been celebrated at a special fashion show at Worcester Guildhall on Wednesday, 19th March. More than 200 parents, guardians and parents to be saw the most up to date range of fun and fashionable real nappies being modelled by local babies and children.

Cathy Hines, waste prevention team project assistant, said, 'We were slightly taken aback by how many people turned up to the day and the show definitely had standing room only! The fantastic response to the event shows how people view real nappies as a real alternative, which in turn will make a real difference to the environment.'

The Real Nappy Incentive Scheme gives parents, guardians and parents to be the opportunity to either receive £30 cash back when they purchase £50 worth or more of real nappies (excluding accessories) or they can claim a free pack of pre-fold nappies worth around £15 from Green Nappies, a social enterprise working with adults from disadvantaged groups.

To take part in the ongoing cash back scheme or claim a free pack of Green Nappies, people must be a Herefordshire or Worcestershire resident, return a signed Real Nappy Incentive Scheme application form to Green Nappies, supply a copy of MATB 1 form or child's birth certificate, provide a copy of receipt(s) for £50 worth, or more, of real nappies, be happy for their contact details to be passed on to Green Nappies for the sole purpose of them contacting them to take part in a real nappy feedback survey and only take advantage of one scheme per baby.

Each child can potentially use up to 6,000 disposable nappies in their lifetime and eight million disposable nappies are thrown away every day in the UK. More than 90 per cent of disposable nappies are disposed of in landfill and may take up hundreds of years to decompose. The average spend on disposable nappies can be as much as £922.74 per child before they reach the age of three. Real nappies can be used again and again and be used subsequent children.

Free Nappaccino mornings are held regularly at Hereford's Courtyard Theatre on the third Monday of the month and this year will be on 21st April, 19th May, 16th June, 21st July, 18th August, 15th September, 20th October, 17th November and 15th December. All Nappacciono mornings run between 10am and noon.

Nappaccino mornings allow parents, guardians and parents-to-be the chance to see the benefits of real nappies while enjoying a free cup of coffee. There is a wide range of styles on display and a nappy consultant on hand to answer questions and offer advice.

The council is responsible for getting rid of all the disposable nappies thrown out by Herefordshire parents. Not only do these nappies take decades to break down after they've been taken to landfill, it is also increasingly costly for the council to pay for such disposal, a cost that's passed on to the council taxpayer.

Further information on the Real Nappy Incentive Scheme, Nappaccino Mornings and Evenings is available at www.wastemissionimpossible.org.uk or by calling call 01905 766883.

Herefordshire's farmers are coming to town on Saturday, 19th April to show youngsters where their food comes from. As part of the Year of Food and Farming campaign, children visiting Hereford's High Town will be able to milk a dummy 'cow', see spring lambs and chicks and get involved in workshops where they can make bread and taste the results.

Supported by the Herefordshire Partnership, which comprises the council, primary care trust, police and community groups, and co-ordinated by the Herefordshire Rural Hub, the free event aims to create memorable, first hand learning experiences. It starts at 10am and finishes at 4pm. Visitors will be able to taste and buy food and follow a Herefordshire Food Trail around the city centre.

'Throughout the year farmers and food producers work hard to help put food on our table and this event helps young people to understand what's involved in that,' said Cathy Meredith, of the Rural Hub, based at the Holme Lacy Campus, which is a centre for land based and outdoor education. 'This is a free event open to all generations and we hope everyone will come along to participate and learn more about food and farming in Herefordshire.'

Herefordshire Council's cabinet has commended the children and young people's plan for approval by full council. This three year plan sets out how services and organization can work together to help the county's children and young people be healthier, safer, perform well at school, enjoy life and be good citizens.

The plan has been put together by Herefordshire's Children's Trust and spells out the priority areas that services for children and young people need to concentrate on over the next three years. It brings together the work of schools, health services, the council, police, youth offending services, Connexions and other groups who work with children in a comprehensive strategic plan. This plan stipulates what the priorities are, what actions are needed to tackle the priorities and how successes will be measured.

Some of the county's main priorities include improving the emotional health of children so that they do not become involved in risk taking activities such as substance misuse including alcohol, drugs and cigarettes. Tackling obesity and dental decay in the county is also a key priority area.

Other issues include reducing bullying in and out of school, and raising awareness of how to use the internet safely. Improving educational attainment to ensure children and young people get the best start in life and move on to good jobs are also key areas, as well as providing more positive activities outside of school.

Councillor Jenny Hyde, cabinet member for children and young people, said,'This plan has been put together by all the organizations involved in delivering services for children across the county. It has been consulted on widely and amended to incorporate as many views as possible. In particular we have been delighted to receive feedback and challenge from the Shadow Board of the Children's Trust which is made up of young people aged 11 years and older.

Our vision is to achieve the very best for all our children and young people by ensuring all those involved with them work effectively together to improve their life chances. Once the plan has been considered and approved by full council it will be published, implemented and monitored to make sure that collectively, the actions bring about real changes for our children and young people.'

Children at Lord Scudamore School in Hereford are encouraging busy families to eat healthily by producing an exciting new recipe book.

'Good Food Fast' is packed with hearty recipes that can be produced in around 30 minutes, ranging from smoothies and stews, to kedgeree and pizzas.

In a drive to promote healthy living, and to endorse their Healthy Schools Status, pupils aged between three and eleven submitted their favourite recipes to compete for a range of prizes sponsored by local businesses. The best ones were selected by Rebecca Stanners, Community Dietician, Herefordshire Hospitals as follows:

Best vegetarian recipe - Ella Butlin's foolproof falafel recipe sponsored by Café@All Saints
Best meat recipe - Olivia Gray's wonderful pasta salad sponsored by Heggies
Best smoothie recipe - Eden Baillie and Charlie Scott joint winners, sponsored by Shepherd's ice cream
Best pasta recipe - Kyle's simple pasta recipe sponsored by Play Planet
Best dessert - Megan Cotterell's magic lemon pudding sponsored by Tyrell's crisps.

The book has been put together with help from Herefordshire Council's healthy schools team as part of the Year of Food and Farming, a campaign to promote healthy living by giving young people direct experience of the countryside, farming and food. Every primary school will be given a copy of the book, courtesy of the healthy schools team, and the remainder will be sold by the school with all profits being used to fund the school's eco garden

'Good food fast' will be launched on Saturday, 19th April at the Food and Farming event in Hereford's High Town. Children, teachers and parents will have a stall in All Saints Church where members of the public can purchase a copy of the book and talk to some of those involved in putting it together.

Tess Boyes, healthy schools co-ordinator, said, 'Children at Lord Scudamore School have taken their Healthy Schools Status very seriously and we're delighted to have worked with them on this project. Being healthy is about feeling good in both mind and body and eating well is very much part of this.

The children who have written this book show how good healthy food can be achieved quickly and economically and that it's fun to be in the kitchen creating home made tasty dishes.

The Year of Food and Farming is about celebrating how food is grown and produced, feeding young minds with a respect and passion for good, healthy food and understand where it comes from.'

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