THE blooming display of hanging baskets in the centre of Okehampton might be the last unless traders and community groups work together to fund them, a shopkeeper has warned.

Rebecca Green, who runs Mooplehog on West Street, wants others to join her in contributing to looking after baskets throughout the summer season.

She says that the fantastic displays will only be possible next year if both shopkeepers and community organisations in the town club together to maintain the displays.

‘They are an integral part of summer in the town and it is really important for the locals that we have them,’ she said.

‘There’s a real danger that if we don’t get support, they will just disappear. There are 102 hanging baskets throughout the town, they are all over the place, and at the moment they are fed and watered twice a day

‘Up until the year before last Donald from Donald’s Menswear used to look after them free of charge. He’s now retired, so we have to pay someone to do it for us. He does a really good job, but we need to cover the costs.

‘I’m paying £2 a week towards his wages this year. We have got £500 from the town council as well as a £150 donation from the Conservative Club for this year, but we need others to come forward and contribute for next year.’

The baskets – which are currently treating everyone in town to blooming displays of petunias and other flowers – are organised each year by Okehampton Chamber of Commerce.

‘There is a perception that the business community should fund them, but in fact they are important to people in the town generally,’ she said. ‘For that reason I think we all need to get together to make sure they stay.’