Ledbury Town Football Club is celebrating securing a 25-year lease on its ground.

The club has signed an out-of-court settlement with the private owner of the land, just off New Street, bringing to a close the uncertainty that has rumbled on for nearly 20 years.

In debt to brewery company Courage to the tune of £60,000, the club handed over the deeds to the ground as collateral in 1983.

Afterwards, the deeds found their way into the hands of a developer, who has not been named, and the possibility arose that the ground could be built on.

Club chairman Chris Stephens said the out-of-court deal had just been sorted out. The result is that the ground's future now seems secure, thanks to the new lease arrangement.

Now the club is in talks with Ledbury Town Council, in a bid to secure a grant so that the ground can be enhanced in keeping with the club's move into the West Midlands Premier League.

Mr Stephens said: "We've been trying to secure the lease for some time and have managed to get it sorted out in the last few weeks.

"Now we've moved into a higher standard of football, there are things we have to do such as putting in new lights, dugouts and ground improvements."

Ledbury Town Council welcomed news that the club had secured its lease, although members are calling for further details.

Councillors are to invite club officials to a meeting to discuss the way forward, including the possible level of financial assistance.

Coun Spencer Lane, chairman of the town's finance and general purposes committee, said: "Let's check the lease. We are willing to help, willing to listen and we should do that at the earliest convenience."

The level of financial help the town council is now willing to give to the club is still private and confidential. No final decisions have been made and discussions continue.

But Coun Lane called the general situation "positive" and confirmed this week that the council had already held informal discussions with Ledbury Town Football Club.

He said: "I believe they have secured tenancy on the football ground. It's great news.

"Personally, I'd like Ledbury Town Council to get involved in helping to upgrade their facilities so that they can generate more revenue.

"I believe this help should be in the form of a grant instead of a loan."