RESIDENTS have pulled together to restore their town to its former glory after a mystery poisoner tried to sabotage efforts for this year's Britain in Bloom contest.

In a move which has baffled residents of Saltburn, the poisoner secretly slipped weedkiller into a contractor's water tank, which was then used to spray scores of colourful displays around the town.

The incident came two weeks after vandals wrecked a 17ft floral display of Saltburn pier created especially for the contest.

Saltburn is one of 61 finalists in this year's contest, the fifth year it has been a finalist, and judges visited just before the flowers died. Last year, the town received the Britain in Bloom Community Award 2002.

Hanging baskets adorned every shop and office and former railway station in the Grade II listed town centre, some trailing 10ft of flowers.

Judges from the Britain in Bloom panel are due to visit the town again this month. Resident Jackie Taylor, who works all year raising funds for displays, said that up to £9,000 had been spent on the flowers and £6,500 on watering.

Another resident Jan Boddy, said: "Our flowers are always a thrill for residents and visitors alike, so what kind of person would do this?"

However, organisers have been overwhelmed by generous offers from local and national companies and a council to help to restore the town's displays.

"We are absolutely thrilled with the response," said Ms Taylor. "We were all devastated about the poisoning but we've been overwhelmed by the number of people who have phoned up offering us replacement plants. We will still be entering the Britain in Bloom competition.

"The soil and water samples were sent away on Monday to be analysed.

"People have asked me if it could be sabotage but I don't think it is. Why would anyone who spends so much time looking after a community want to come and deliberately harm someone else's?"

Local nurseries, including Apple Orchard, Skelton, and The Weigh House shop in Saltburn, have donated 170 baskets between them. Amberol, a national firm which makes self watering planters, has supplied 60 large hanging baskets and 22 smaller ones for Saltburn train station.

Wansbeck District Council in Northumberland has donated all the council's surplus bedding plants. Terry Garnick, parks and green spaces manager, said: "We're more than happy to help. Our coastal town, Newbiggin-by-the Sea, competes in the competition just like Saltburn and I can imagine just how distressing it must be to have been left in this situation.

"We're not in the running for the national competition but we'll be sparring against Saltburn when the Northumbria results are announced."

All 320 hanging baskets in the town were taken down on Tuesday, the destroyed plants burnt and the baskets were taken away to be cleaned.

Ms Taylor said: "The local community have been fantastic, as they always are. But we've also had helpers come from Carlin How, Hinderwell, and Redcar to help us. I've really been bowled over by the amount of help we've had."

On Tuesday, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's cabinet agreed that £2,000 should be made available to Saltburn from a budget earmarked for grant aid to the Community Safety Partnership.

Members also agreed that free plants from the council-run Kirkleatham nursery should be donated.

Police officers are investigating the incident.