When Balfour Beatty set about replacing lamp-posts in Fernbank road, and several others areas of Ross-on-Wye, they also removed the Neighbourhood Watch Area signs.

These signs were purchased and put up thanks to public donations collected by local Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinators, 20 years ago.

One of the original co-ordinators is Sandie Cotterell, she told the Ross Gazette that after meetings held in Ross to generate interest, several Neighbourhood Watch groups were set up.

She said:?“We had to apply to the council for permission to put the signs on their property, the lamp-posts.