FYLDE flower fans have lost out to Canada with their controversial entry into the international "Green Oscars."

And many local residents felt the £4,000 it cost to transport two representatives to the finals of the Nation in Bloom competition in Japan could have been better spent elsewhere.

But council bosses feel that the cost is outweighed by the experience gained during the visit.

The prestigious competition, organised by the International Federation of Parks, looks at the work carried out to enhance the landscapes of areas.

It also looks at the way areas manage their heritage and their plans for the future. The award is hotly contested across the world, and even across this country.

The Fylde was competing against the London borough of Wandsworth, as well as Bournemouth and a host of cities around the globe.

The Council's director of tourism and leisure, Dave Joy, and his deputy, were in Japan to give the final presentation for the area which included a video and a slide show.

Unfortunately the announcement came last week that the city of Richmond, in Canada, had won.

However, Dave Joy is not downhearted.

"Although we are disappointed at not winning we have learned a great deal about what the best in the world are doing to manage their local environments sustainably," he said.

And Leader of Fylde Borough Council, Paul Hayhurst added: "Winning would have been the icing on the cake, but we have promoted our world class industry, superb tourism facilities and the internationally famous Open Golf Championship in 2001 as well as demonstrating that the Fylde is a wonderful place in which to live, work and visit."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.