PERSHORE is set to flourish this summer when the town enters the Britain in Bloom competition for the first time.

Following an appeal in the Journal last week, 12 community-spirited people turned up to a meeting at No 8 on Tuesday to lend their support.

They included representatives from schools, the town council and businesses and they discussed ways in which to deck the streets with flowers and shrubs.

Jill Liley, project manager for Pershore in Bloom who launched the campaign, said she planned floral displays for Bridge Street, High Street, Abbey Gardens and Pershore schools.

Ms Liley has applied to Advantage West Midlands, Community First based in Malvern and Pershore Town Council for grants to help fund the project.

Mary Pawsey, owner of Top Drawer, in the High Street, said: "I am interested in making the town look good. I own a business and having a nice looking town will benefit businesses around Pershore."

Steve Cooper, owner of the ironworks company, S.E Cooper, has agreed to provide poles and baskets at a competitive price to complement the railings he has installed around the town.

The committee also agreed to ask students at Pershore schools to plant tomatoes and strawberries in their hanging baskets, in line with the current healthy food promotions.

Other baskets surrounding the town will include geraniums, they said, but the colour scheme is yet to be decided. The next meeting of the Pershore In Bloom committee will be held at 6pm on Tuesday, April 26, at Number 8, in the High Street.