National flower power hopes wilt after Bath bloom defeat

The organiser of the city's Britain in Bloom efforts has spoken of his disappointment after Bath again missed out on the chance to represent the west this year.

Bath pitted itself against other towns and cities in the South West in the competition which encourages people to show their pride in their community through colourful floral displays.

Judges were taken on a tour of the city's most attractive parts in June - but in what local organisers call "monsoon conditions."

Last week Bath was awarded a silver gilt runners-up place for its efforts in the contest.

It missed out on first place to Taunton for the third year running, with the Somerset county town now representing the region in the national final.

The co-ordinator for the city's Britain in Bloom efforts, Barry Cruse, said extra work had been put in across the district to give Bath a better chance of winning.

The city has been a frequent national winner in the past.

Mr Cruse said he was disappointed with the outcome and shocked the city had missed out on gold.

He said: "I was absolutely stunned and devastated we got silver.

"In my book I judged Bath to be a gold winner. I just feel sorry for everyone who has put in such a major effort this year.

"I will be pushing to find out where we went wrong."

Mr Cruse said he thought the weather on the day of the judges' visit may have affected the result.

He said: "On the day of the judging, it was monsoon conditions. We were watching flower displays being washed away in front of our eyes.

"I would like to think judges took that into account but it must have been very difficult to come to a rational decision in those conditions."

But despite missing out overall in what is Europe's largest gardening contest, the city received an award for the King Bladud Pigs public arts project, which has seen more than 100 model pigs installed on the streets.

The discretionary award was presented to the city at the award ceremony in Plymouth.

The accolade follows the creation of a planted floral pig at Parade Gardens and a topiary-style pig at Wellsway.

Mr Cruse said: "This was great for everyone concerned with the pigs and is a great credit to the city."