A CALL to arms has been made to residents of Richmond to get behind its Britain in Bloom entry and help with a final push before the judges arrive.

Judges from Britain in Bloom will arrive in the town next week and volunteers have been working tirelessly to make sure the whole town is at its best.

Cllr Stuart Parsons said both Richmond Pride, which regularly works to clean up the town, and Richmond in Bloom were working together in a bid to make the town look its best, and have been weeding pavements, clearing up communal areas and sprucing up neglected land.

Cllr Parsons said: “We have had some absolutely wonderful volunteers, working all through the week tirelessly and have made huge improvements.

“But we still have a lot to do and next weekend we want as many people as possible to come out and help us.”

On Saturday, June 30, and Sunday, July 1, there are two shifts available – from 10am until 1pm, and from 1pm until 4pm.

People will need gardening gloves and either a wallpaper stripper tool or other small gardening tools, and meet at Richmond Town Hall.

The Britain in Bloom judges are coming to the town on Tuesday, July 3.

Cllr Parsons said: “Volunteers have made a vast different at Queens Road, Pottergate and towards Darlington Road, and we have been really lucky to have 20 to 30 volunteers each day – but we need a few more for the final push.

“A lot of the local businesses have also been amazing, doing weeding early in the morning before work and carrying on after work. Everyone has worked so hard so we really want to show Britain in Bloom judges what fantastic community spirit we have in Richmond, and what a beautiful town it is.”