A HISTORIC gardening contest has been scrapped because competitors would rather have council cash spent on maintenance than prizes, sandwiches and beer.

Blackburn with Darwen Allotments Competition has been running since 1936, giving thousands of plot holders the chance to grow prize winners for decades.

But Blackburn with Darwen Allotments Federation has asked council chiefs to scrap the contest -- and invest the money in something more worthwhile.

Federation secretary Roland Wild met with other allotments secretaries in May after it was revealed that presentation costs were more than £2,000 out of the council's annual allotment spending of £12,000.

The issue was put to a vote of plot holders, and a majority decision led to the cancellation of the prize-giving ceremony, just weeks before judging is due to start.

Mr Wild, also secretary of Ewood allotments, said: "The competition has been cancelled indefinitely. We met with the council and it came out that the £2,000 to pay for the presentation was coming out of the budget. It was decided that we weren't prepared to pay the money for a few sandwiches and some beer when it could be better spent on site facilities and maintenance, the cost of which is increasing because of vandalism."

But the move has saddened Revidge Allotments, current holders of the Mayor's Cup, traditionally presented to the winners by the mayor and mayoress.

Mike Devoy, secretary of Revidge Allotments, which is independent of local authority funding, said: "I was just looking at the trophy a few moments ago and it is very sad to think the competition is not taking place."

The council's director of regeneration, housing and neighbourhoods, Adam Scott, said: "While it is a shame that the judging and the ceremony will not take place, the council has to respect the wishes of the gardeners themselves."

As well as an award for best allotment, certificates were also presented to individual winners for the best plot on each of the 10 sites in the borough: Burnley Road, Broadfold, Ewood, Feniscliffe, Leyburn Road, Queen's Park, Revidge, Sunnybank Road, Teak Street, and Witton.