A £25,000-plus project to restore part of Ludlow's medieval town wall got under way this week.

"The work is to ensure this precious part of Ludlow's legacy is maintained and secured for the long term in the most appropriate and durable manner that can be achieved using modern restoration and engineering techniques," said South Shropshire District Council's conservation officer Colin Richards.

The first stage involves sorting through the stone that has fallen into St John's Garden, south of the wall.

That part of the wall, which is close to Broad Gate, retains the back garden of Brand House - where Lord Nelson and Emma Hamilton once came to lunch.

The whole scheme will be carried out to the highest English Heritage standards and is expected to take a month.

Ludlow's wall once encircled the whole town but only fragments now remain, mostly on the south side. Ground water in the Brand House garden may have contributed to the collapse of the wall at that point, Mr Richards believes.

Specialist engineers have designed a system of reinforcements using ground anchors, which will be set deep in the garden and bedded into the wall.

As well as English Heritage, the project also involves the district council as well as Shropshire county and Ludlow town councils.

One aim is to make the walls more accessible.

An "interpretation plan" is being developed by the district council to help people understand the historical importance of the walls.