THE mayor and mayoress of Ledbury have cancelled a church performance of Old MacDonald Had A Farm out of sympathy for the community hit by the foot and mouth crisis.

The well-known song, which lists all the animals living on a farm and includes farmyard noises, is listed as one of the programme highlights for the Mayor's Concert, set to take place in St Michael and All Angels' Church on Friday, April 20, from 7.30pm.

The mayoress Jill Jupp said: "It could be seen as being in bad taste and could upset the farming community."

The choir, The Stuart Singers, contacted the mayor and mayoress with their own concerns about the song.

Mrs Jupp said: "They suggested it should be taken out and we said yes, absolutely."

It will be replaced by another piece of music, still to be announced, although it is too late now to show the amendment on the programmes, which double as the tickets.

The removal of the song from the programme has been welcomed by Gordon Gilbert, former NFU chairman for Herefordshire.

Mr Gilbert, of Lower House Farm, Canon Frome said: "It's an appropriate response, I would agree to that. It would have been a bit near the bone, given the sadness in the community at the present time."

The concert itself will go ahead as planned, in aid of the Mayor's Charities, which are Ledbury in Bloom, Ledbury Carnival and Ledbury Parish Church.

The Gloucestershire-based Stuart Singers boast a varied repertoire from traditional pieces such as The Hallelujah Chorus, by Handel, through to the Dire Straits anti-war anthem, Brothers in Arms.

Programmes are £5, available from Ledbury Town Council offices and Ledbury Tourist Information Centre.