A DISABLED widow today blasted recycling contractors over the delay in tending a memorial bush dedicated to her late husband.

It is seven weeks since contractors damaged the bush -- planted after her 57-year-old husband's death from cancer in October -- as they reversed on to her drive.

Last week Wendy Wilkinson, 47, of Barons Close, Lower Darwen told the Evening Telegraph that she was desperate for the flowering Escallonia bush to be tended to before it died. But today she revealed how it took almost two weeks for the contractors responsible, R U Recycling?, to take any action.

And the gardener distressed her even more by arriving on her wedding anniversary -- and she claims he did little to save the shrub.

Steve Irving, depot manager for the company, said: "I had no idea what the gardener had done - we have no control over that.

"I will however get someone else round to the property and will keep trying until we get it put right."

Wendy, who is in a wheelchair, said: "After not being in touch with me for weeks I arrived home from visiting my mum on Saturday to find a note had been pushed through the letterbox saying a gardener had been.

"All that they had done was remove the metal poles that they had run over and tie some string around it. All the damaged branches are still there.

"Even the kids say it doesn't look any different and neighbours think it is a joke. There is still some green on the bush but all the flowers have died and it is definitely getting worse. I know it is only a bush but it is special to us and was special to Russell. The children will be devastated if it dies.

"It was my wedding anniversary on Saturday, which was the first since Russell died.

"All I wanted was the bush saving before then and not to come home to find it had just been tied up with string."