GREEN-FINGERED volunteers are hoping they will be blooming with pride when they bid to be named the best in Britain.

The renowned Halstead in Bloom team has been selected as Anglia in Bloom’s entry into the prized Britain in Bloom competition.

The team will battle it out in the town category, having previously been named joint winners of the gong back in 2017.

At the time judges praised the town’s colour co-ordinated floral baskets, Holy Trinity Primary School’s vegetable garden, and the growing areas in Adams Court.

They also commended Halstead for its “fun and innovative ideas” including taking the judges along the river to view the town’s blooms in Morris Minors.

Julia Smith, who founded Halstead in Bloom, said the team was hoping for success again in 2019.

She said: “Halstead in Bloom is delighted to be given this opportunity to promote Halstead and will do our best to make sure the judges are shown the best of what the town has to offer.

“We would ask everyone to join together to make sure the town looks great - Halstead in Bloom is for everyone so everyone has a part to play.

“Please be prepared to pick up litter if you see it, and pull out stray weeds and remove dead heads if you see them and not just in the judging season.

“Let’s make sure that Halstead is the best town in Britain in Bloom again.”

The team also claimed the top gong at the Britain in Bloom in 2012 and 2015.

Formed just before the new millennium, the group was set up by the late Michael Portway and Julia after the town council asked them to make the scheme community-led.

The initial aim of Halstead in Bloom was to help brighten and improve the town’s appearance.

The Halstead in Bloom team are urging everyone to get involved to help make the town look its best ready for the competition by taking part in events such as the community litter pick and river clean.

The next community litter pick is on Sunday, January 27 at 10.30am and the next river clean event is on Sunday, February 3. Both events start at Chapel Street car park.

Halstead in Bloom’s next meeting is on Thursday, January 31 at Halstead Icing at 7.30pm.