THE team in charge of keeping central Colchester looking bright and blooming is appealing for help to beat the hosepipe ban and keep the town’s flowers alive.

Colchester in Bloom is looking for someone who can spare some water for the plants which brighten up the town centre’s hanging baskets, window boxes, tubs and borders.

They are normally watered by Veolia, the contractor which maintains Castle Park for Colchester Council.

However, Anglian Water’s hosepipe ban means the company is unlikely to be allowed to get the required 2,600 gallons a week from the public supply.

Colchester in Bloom chairman Pam Schomberg said is was vital to keep the flowers growing as a way of making the town attractive to attract tourists and shoppers through the summer.

She added: “It looks as though we’re not going to be allowed to water them unless we find another source of water.

“The town is heartless and sterile without the flowers – and that’s no good for business.

“People are going to go to towns which have displays and look friendly and warm, while Colchester is just going to be a concrete jungle.”

The council says it has secured supplies to keep its own floral displays going through the summer, but this won’t be enough for the hanging baskets and tubs, too.

Bob Penny, the council’s parks and recreation manager, said Anglian Water would allow it to extract a limited amount of water from the River Colne flowing through Castle Park.

He said the crucial time would be the first fortnight in June, when the displays were planted and the flowers needed to be “watered in”.

He added: “We’re looking at where we can get hold of non-mains water.

“That will help us, but the volume we’re talking about is going to still make things difficult.

“Last year, our grounds maintenance contractor, Veolia, was able to water the hanging baskets around the town for Colchester in Bloom.

“We’re not sure of how much water it will be able to get hold of. Our focus really is making sure sufficient sources of water have been identified in early June.”

Colchester in Bloom is looking for a landowner, possibly a farmer, with a private pond, or lake, and pumping facilities who would be able to spare about 2,600 gallons a week. It is also appealing for nurseries and growers to donate drought-resistant plants which can survive the summer with minimal watering.

If you can help, call the group’s secretary, Dave Harris, on 01206 545889.