FERRYHILL Town Council is seeking to improve its chances of success in next year's Northumbria in Bloom competition.

The council has had feedback from the judges about what they are looking for.

Executive officer Jamie Corrigan said: "Generally speaking, the report from Northumbria in Bloom all looked very good and they said our tubs were the best they've ever seen.

"But the things that were noted as being negatives were our lack of architectural features and partnership involvement."

Mr Corrigan suggested it might be possible to produce a design based on a coal cart, pit wheel or some other symbol of the town's mining history.

He proposed approaching residents' associations and other groups to play a part in future projects.

Councillors approved the idea, but Coun Bernie Lamb said: "We aren't here just to win prizes. Really the benefit of all these flowers is for the people of Ferryhill and the enhancement of the town, and I'd like to think that in the last few years we have enhanced Ferryhill.

"Northumbria in Bloom is a secondary thing."