A SHEPHERD is no longer employed to look after sheep and other livestock on the Malvern Hills.

The Malvern Hills Conservators decided not to renew shepherd Barry Evans' six-month contract when it expired in November.

Instead, field warden Matt Rouse is now responsible for livestock management, assisted by colleague Matt Gardener.

It is the second change in livestock control since last May, when news emerged that 56 of the Conservators' lambs had disappeared

"The grazing project has developed and we learned that the method we used before was not the perfect method," said conservation officer David Whitehorne. "We had a bit of a change around in the structure of things.

"The livestock control was formerly managed by myself, but I spend more time in the office than on the ground.

"It is now managed by the operations manager, who is on the ground much more and sees the day-to-day running of the scheme."

A new field warden has been employed to take over the work previously done by Matt Gardener.

Richard Vale will patrol the east side of the hills, including Malvern Hills Common, Link Common, Old Hills and Castlemorton.