UPTON in Bloom is hoping to attract a bumper crop of residents and businesses to take part in this year’s Heart of England in Bloom Neighbourhood Awards.

The town has enjoyed huge success in the Heart of England in Bloom competition, regularly claiming coveted gold awards and last year claiming the prestigious title of overall winner.

Now Upton in Bloom chairman Jackie Surtees is hoping to spread that success into the Neighbourhood Awards category, which allows businesses or small groups of residents to enter their local neighbourhood into Heart of England in Bloom.

There are already three confirmed local entries, with the new Upton Surgery, residents at the bottom end of Rectory Road and the Anchor Inn at Welland all taking part.

Mrs Surtees has also handed out several more application forms, and is hoping to grow that crop of entries further.

“We would love to see lots more people getting involved in the Neighbourhood Awards,” she said. “It does not take a huge amount of effort to enter. It is really just a case of ensuring that your neighbourhood is nice and tidy and looking good for when the judges visit.

It can be quite a social thing to get involved with in terms of encouraging people to get to know each other.”

Upton in Bloom members will be happy to offer advice to anyone that decides to take part. A link to further details and entry forms is available from the Upton in Bloom page on the town’s website, upton.uk.net