Bloom team ends its bid for victory

The decision was taken by vote, at a meeting of the Ledbury in Bloom committee last week in the committee room of Ledbury Town Council's offices.

Committee member Clive Jupp said: "Not enough people have come forward to join us. There was no real option.

"There is some disappointment. We would have liked to carry on but we just need people and we'd like to think that we'll be back in 2007."

There are fewer than ten committee members for Ledbury in Bloom, which hopes to continue as an organisation for the benefit of the town.

The committee suspended itself in December, after just eight people attended the annual meeting.

At a meeting in January, Sue Holland agreed to be chairman again and the committee agreed to come out of suspension until April, when the level of support could be reassessed.

This month also sees the cut-off point for entries into this year's regional Heart of England in Bloom competition.

Ms Holland declined to comment on the vote not to participate, apart from saying she had been in favour of entering the competition.

She said she would continue to work, as always, for the benefit of Ledbury to make it more attractive for residents and visitors.

Mr Jupp, Ledbury's deputy mayor, said the Ledbury in Bloom committee was still in existence.

Even without a place in the competition, he said the focus would be on the town centre with projects including planting of flower tubs.

Concerning the hanging baskets, he added: "The town council does those, so they will still be there."

Ledbury's record in the Britain in Bloom competition excellent.

It was named best small town in Britain in 2003 and secured a hat trick of wins in the regional Heart of England finals, starting in 2000.

It was regional winner again in 2004 and won a gold award last September.

On Tuesday, 25 local people went on a Ledbury in Bloom coach trip, alongside chairman Sue Holland, to see Prince Charles' garden at Highgrove.