AN expert gardener who played a key role in several successful Britain in Bloom bids has volunteered to help Upton in next year's competition.

The town finished a disappointing bottom in its category in this year's event and it was this that prompted Doug Fletcher to offer his services.

The Longdon-based horticulturalist has designed, planted and installed hanging baskets in Tewkesbury and Ledbury in previous years with resounding success.

For the past two years, Tewkesbury has finished second to Ledbury in the small towns' regional category, while the Herefordshire town was the Heart of England representative this year in the national stage of the competition.

"I think Upton has got tremendous potential," said Mr Fletcher.

"I'm not going to do Ledbury this year, although I will continue with Tewkesbury as it's in a different category to Upton.

"It's something the ordinary person on the street can get involved with."

But Mr Fletcher warned that success in the competition was no easy thing.

"Britain in Bloom is a very hard competition to enter," he said. "People think you can just stick a few hanging baskets up and have a chance of winning it, but the judges want to be shown round for an hour and a half, and they don't want to see the same thing twice."

Mr Fletcher worked for nine years as a craft gardener for Cheltenham Borough Council and has been involved with Britain in Bloom for around 16 years.

A hip replacement operation has kept him out of work and meant he had to direct his family to do last year's hanging baskets. But the 61-year-old hopes to be fit in time to be able to work personally on Upton's 2002 bid.

Town councillor Neil Culley will be in charge of the town's entry next year.

He said he wants Mr Fletcher to work with Brian Williams, of Earl's Croome Nursery, who co-ordinated this year's bid .