A prize-winning town has pulled out of a gardening competition.

Worthing has won silver medals at South East In Bloom every year since the Royal Horticultural Society’s award system was introduced about five years ago.

The borough council said it had decided not to enter and to concentrate instead on Worthing In Bloom, saving hundreds of pounds.

The council said there would not be fewer flowers than normal.

Parks and foreshore manager Chris Bradley said: “We will concentrate on the local situation where we have more control. We just felt we perhaps needed a break from it.

“The Worthing competition is a community initiative that engenders a sense of civic pride. South East is a regional competition whereby towns are pitted against each other.

“We have for a number of years got a silver medal. We didn’t think we were going to improve on that so we are taking a breather.”

Worthing in Bloom will be launched at the gardeners’ market on May 19. Any company or school in the borough is eligible to enter, along with every resident. Entry is free of charge. Judging will take place in July and there will be an awards ceremony at The Richmond Rooms, Stoke Abbott Road on October 8.

The town has been entering South East in Bloom on and off for 15 years.

source : www.theargus.co.uk