A TOWN is back on track for a bright summer after a vandalised flower installation was replaced.

Residents have been preparing for Kearsley in Bloom by planting flowers across the area but several planters in Bridge Street, leading into Prestolee, were damaged by unknown vandals.

The organisers of the event were unable to pay for a replacement for the planter and flowers but Will Pilkington, owner of the Grapes pub, stepped in to offer the cash.

A spokesman for the Kearsley Festival Group, which organises In Bloom, thanked Mr Pilkington for his work.

They added: “We work hard to raise funds to put these flowers in place for the benefit of the whole community.

“The community has taken ownership to look after these planters for everyone living here.

“We are heartbroken each and every time the minority try and bring the community down.

“However, each and every time something negative happens something positive always reigns and shows what an amazing place Kearsley is to live.”

Mr Pilkington said he had offered to fund the new plants because he had seen the vandalised area on his way to work and wanted to help out in the community.

“I just got fed up with walking over the bridge every day and I knew that they didn’t have money to fix it so I offered some help,” he said.

“I like to do as much as I can for the community but I don’t always have time to help with things like litter picking so this seemed like a nice thing to do.

“I just hope that they don’t end up getting damaged again.”

Kearsley in Bloom is an annual event which runs from June 1 to August 31 and calls on the community to brighten up the town by displaying hanging baskets and reviving garden planters.

The organisers of the project have asked for anyone who would like to make donations to the maintenance of the flowers and planters to get in contact or send donations via PayPal through kearsleyfestivalgroup@hotmail.com.

Donators are asked to add Kearsley in Bloom as the subject line to make sure their money is diverted to the right cause.

Alternatively, residents who want to get involved with the project can do so by planting their own flowers, helping out with watering or setting up planters outside their homes.

Anyone else who wants to get involved in Kearsley in Bloom, should send photos in to the group’s Facebook.

For more, visit: www.facebook.com/KearsleyInBloom.