HUNDREDS of hanging baskets will soon be adding a splash of colour to local streets.

For Bury Council staff have swung into action once again to display the 500 bloom-filled baskets around the borough.

Over the coming weeks ,12,000 summer bedding plants from lobelia to petunias will provide a colourful backdrop to the town.

Thanks to support from the business community in towns across the borough, the council has once again been able to put together the floral display. As well as hanging baskets, troughs and tubs are being planted up and fixed in position.

Local authority best value and competitiveness chairman, Councillor Cath Platt, said: "Once again thousands of blooms will be seen across our borough and they will help to brighten up local life no end.

"The business community has rallied round to support our planting initiative and, thanks to their sponsorship, we will be able to put on a spectacular show."

She added: "Our grounds maintenance staff have been busy making their preparations over recent weeks and now the really hard work has begun.

"We hope that other businesses, which have not got involved with sponsorship yet, will help to further brighten the surroundings by putting out their own baskets and displays. At the same time, local people can also get involved. There is no reason why whole streets should not get together to transform their own community surrounding."