Seaside town is back in bloom

A seaside town, whose competition hanging baskets were mysteriously poisoned, is blooming again.

Most of the baskets have been replaced

Last month, flowers in around 400 hanging baskets in Saltburn-by-the-Sea, were killed when someone slipped weedkiller into the water supply.

Many businesses have offered replacement plants for free or cut price, and scores of local people worked around the to get the town blooming once again.

The judges for Britain in Bloom are due to return to the Grade II listed town on Thursday to take another look at the entry.

Organisers said they are still optimistic of success despite the sabotage attack.

The town has been a finalist in the Royal Horticultural Society's annual floral competition for the past five years and last year won the Britain in Bloom Community Award.

Jackie Taylor, co-ordinator of Saltburn in Bloom said it had been a team effort to get their Britain in Bloom contest back on track.

She said: "I have never seen such a community effort.

"We have tried to replace everything. The quality of some is not as good as we would like, but it all we could afford.

"But we have done our best and because of all the goodwill and sheer enthusiasm of the volunteers, it has been fantastic.

"Everyone says there is no such publicity as bad publicity, and I think in this case it is right.

"The outpouring of help and concern, and just people caring, was overwhelming.

"The Britain in Bloom competition is not just about flowers. It is about taking pride in your community."

Community effort

Saltburn is one of 61 finalists, the fifth time it has made the finals, but organisers feared their chances of success had disappeared.

Tony Lynn, of the Saltburn in Bloom committee, added: "Whatever happens now we are more than happy with what we have achieved in the time we have achieved it.

"It proves what can be done when the community rallies together and we'll just have to wait and see what happens.

"There is a lot of activity in the town and restoring the baskets and displays has been a marvellous community effort.

"After what happened there was never any thought of giving up or withdrawing from the competition and it is all credit to the community that we have got the town looking really stunning again."

Mr Lynn added: "Whether we will ever get to the bottom of who did it I just don't know.

"We sent samples of the hanging baskets and turf off for laboratory tests but haven't had any results back yet."