A TOWN that has won a series of awards in the prestigious Anglia in Bloom competition is unable to enter this year because of a shortage of volunteers, it has emerged.

By John Howard

A TOWN that has won a series of awards in the prestigious Anglia in Bloom competition is unable to enter this year because of a shortage of volunteers, it has emerged.

For the last four years Needham Market in Bloom volunteers have constantly impressed regional judges with the quality of the community's colourful flowers and impressive environmental projects.

When the town first entered Anglia in Bloom during 2001 it scooped an impressive four awards and last year won a silver award for best small town.

But now, although Needham Market in Bloom will brighten up the town this year, the organisers of the event will not be able to bid for recognition from Anglia in Bloom.

Entering the competition involves filling in application forms, creating a portfolio, and showing judges around the community near Stowmarket.

Four volunteers are need to help the organisers go for regional glory, but despite a meeting on Saturday to try and recruit more helpers, no-one was willing to take on the responsibility.

Vera Cousins, chairwoman for Needham Market in Bloom, said: "Nobody new turned up who would be willing to be the Anglia in Bloom co-ordinator.

"This is a separate job all by itself and you need someone at the helm for this. The whole point of entering some years ago was to improve the town and we have achieved that.

"We will carry on making the town look wonderful and we may enter in future years.''

Wendy Marchant, one of the town's district councillors and a member of the Needham Market in Bloom group, said: "It is a tremendous amount of work for people, and it will do no harm to have a little break.

"The town does really well with its floral displays, the town looks lovely, people have lots of hanging baskets, more and more pots appear and there are the window boxes.''

And Josephine Lea, founder of Needham Market in Bloom, added that the group do a good job and other rewards are purely a bonus.

Needham Market in Bloom brightens up the town with hanging baskets, potted plants and open gardens and involves school children and the girl guides in several environmental projects.

The town will this year hold an open gardens event during June, when people will have the chance to enjoy seeing their neighbour's green fingered efforts.