THE latest victim of council cutbacks will be Darlington's entry into the Northumbria and Britain in Bloom competitions, it has emerged.

Councillor Nick Wallis, Darlington Borough Council's cabinet member for leisure and local environment, made the announcement at a meeting on Thursday.

The authority's four-year medium-term financial plan includes proposals to reduce floral displays and maintenance in South Park by £30,000 and also reduce floral displays across the whole town, which would save £20,000.

A council spokeswoman said: "In the current economic climate it was decided that the cost of the council entering Northumbria in Bloom and Britain in Bloom next year, including creating and maintaining floral displays, entry fees, officer time, and hospitality, was not viable.

"The cost of entering the competitions, hospitality, printing portfolios, officer time etc is approximately £700.

"We are proposing to save £20,000 by reducing floral displays around the borough - obviously these displays are not solely planted for the benefit of the competitions, so it would be hard to say exactly what is being saved by not entering the competition."

More than 1,100 cities, towns and villages take part each year in the Royal Horticultural Society's Britain in Bloom contest, and only 70 are selected to go through to the finals.

Darlington has enjoyed success in both competitions this year, winning silver in the small city category in Britain in Bloom and silver gilt in Northumbria in Bloom. It was in 1997 that the town was last selected for the final.

This year, the council used roughly 73,000 summer bedding plants from its own nurseries to create the displays across the borough, including 54hanging baskets in the market square and traditional and herbaceous beds in South Park.

The authority has said that it will continue with the town's own floral competition.

"The council is committed to Darlington in Bloom, our local town and rural gardening competition, which rewards horticultural efforts of residents, our communities and local businesses, " said a council spokeswoman.