TESTS on the water used before Saltburn's Britain in Bloom judging have proved the plants were deliberately poisoned.

A mixture of weedkiller, insecticide, soil fumigants and solvents, including brake fluid, were found in the water.

Thousands of pounds worth of flowers in tubs and hanging baskets were killed after the mixture was added to a tank used to water the displays in the east Cleveland town.

Saltburn in Bloom organiser Jackie Taylor said: "I am very upset that someone could have done this. I hoped for a long time that it was an accident, but the results show something else."