Councillors have urged locals to brighten up the town and get behind the forthcoming floral events in which Tenby is competing this summer.

Tenby in Bloom chairman, Clr. Mrs. Sue Lane, told her colleagues at Tuesday night's meeting of the town council that quite a few residents had started putting out their own window boxes and hanging baskets in preparation for the annual Bloom event, for which judging takes place on July 7, and also the Wales in Bloom contest, which will be judged on July 15.

"Every little bit helps, not just the floral side, but keeping the streets clean and tidy too," said Clr. Mrs. Lane, who along with other members of the Tenby in Bloom committee, travelled over to Caldey last week to help out with a spot of gardening on the island, planting over 100 items there.

Tenby once again enjoyed success in the Wales in Bloom competition last year by winning the title of 'best small country town' for the 25th time, while the resort has gone on to be nominated to represent Wales in the coastal category of this year's Britain in Bloom awards, for which judges will cast their eye over the town's floral and environmental credentials on August 12.

However, Clr. Mrs. Christine Brown said she was disappointed with the lack of financial support that Pembrokeshire County Council had given towards the town's floral crusade this year.

"When the town hosted the Wales in Bloom awards ceremony last year, the county council were only to happy to support the town, but this year they don't seem to be giving that level of support again," she explained.

"I'm not having a go at the county council's gardening team, because they have been doing a wonderful job with limited resources, but an awful lot of work needs doing in preparation for these prestigious floral competitions and also a Royal visit next week.

"The Tenby in Bloom committee are doing a great job and are having to pay for a lot of things themselves; they even had to do some planting down The Green this week, which is wrong and we have to ask the powers that be, why are we being left to do this for ourselves?

"I think the county council are pushing their luck in not being forthcoming with support," continued Clr. Mrs. Brown, who proposed that the town council should donate the sum of £500 towards Tenby in Bloom, which all other councillors agreed to.

Meanwhile, Clr. Mrs. Lane asked those entering this year's competition to get their entry forms in as soon as possible and also those for the 'kiddies garden' competition.

"We're looking forward to a bumper summer full of floral delights in the town once again hopefully," she added.