ORGANISERS of Ledbury in Bloom fear their appeal for a grant of £500 from Herefordshire Council is likely to be turned down.

The group's first ever application to the council's voluntary sector grants panel for help towards this year's competition was rejected, so they appealed against the decision.

But the council's community grants officer, Catherine Bottoms, has recommended that the panel reject the Ledbury in Bloom appeal at a meeting on Tuesday (June 6).

Tom Deane, chairman of Ledbury in Bloom, said he was very disappointed at the recommendation and the likely outcome.

"We asked for the grant because we wanted to increase the number of floral displays in the town this year," he said.

"We have to raise most of the money ourselves and we hoped this grant would supplement our effort this year. We have been runners-up in the competition four years running and this year we are striving to be winners.

"It's very disappointing indeed because everyone puts in so much effort for this and although it is recognised within the town, we don't appear to have the support of Herefordshire Council."

The Ledbury in Bloom organisation does more than just enter the annual competition.

It also aims to keep Ledbury litter free, organises various talks, events and open gardens and this year, to celebrate the Millennium, it has organised a Millennium Garden to be planted at the entrance to the Bye Street car park.

"We are constantly trying to raise money ourselves and we have sponsorship scheme, jumble sales and that sort of thing and everyone works voluntarily," said Mr Deane.

"It won't be a set-back for us because we will certainly persevere but it is a disappointment." he said.

Herefordshire Council spokesman John Burnett said the application was rejected because it would be impossible for the council to fund all the individual Town in Bloom organisations.

"We're in the process of devising a way of putting money into an organisation which would serve bloom competitions on a county-wide basis rather than an individual basis," he said.

n This weekend, the first hanging baskets will be put up in town and Mr Deane said it should be a stunning display.

"The baskets will speak for themselves when people see them on Monday," he said.

On Tuesday, June 20, Mr Deane's and his neighbour will be opening their own gardens to the public at 16 and 17 Woodfield Road.