Has anyone seen the nymph?

The rose garden in the St Annes attraction is being renovated by Supporters Of Ashton Gardens (SOAG), and part of the plan is to restore the fountain and statue which used to take pride of place in the area.

Unfortunately, it has been missing for at least 10 years and no-one seems to know its whereabouts. The statue was of a nymph and was believed to have been specially commissioned.

Having exhausted other leads, SOAG is now turning to the people of the Fylde for some clues.

Said chairman Derek Mulhearn: "We are negotiating with a sponsor prepared to get another statue but we'd like to find out what happened to this one."

The renovation of the rose garden, which was last planted about three years ago and has just a single flower left, will cost around £2,000 - the amount raised by the group during a garden party last year.

Eight beds containing more than 1,000 flowers will be replanted in the early autumn and four have been designated memorial beds, as group member Councillor Barbara Pagett explained: "The idea is for someone to dedicate a rose to their loved one, or plant one because they love coming here on holiday.

"For this they will get a plaque next to their rose and they will all be highly fragaranced because we have quite a few visually impaired people interested."

Anyone who would like to pay for a rose for the memorial bed or knows where the statue is can contact Derek on (01253) 711893 or Barbara on (01253) 725495.

SOAG is holding another garden party on Bank Holiday Monday (August 30).

Cannon and Ball will provide the celebrity interest from 10am and attractions include a funfair, donkey rides, palm reading many stalls Competitions will be held throughout the day, including a grand prize draw.

All money raised will be used to fund further improvement projects in the gardens.

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