Saltburn has hit back at claims it gets star treatment in the race for floral honours.

An angry ward councillor and a community volunteer scotched talk of Saltburn getting more help from the borough council than anywhere else.

And they said hard-working residents had been hurt by jibes about how well the community does in competitions.

Miss Jackie Taylor, driving force behind much of Saltburn's success, said: "We don't get all the help. The council will help anyone who asks."

The row was sparked by Redcar and Cleveland Coun Steve Kay who said other villages were losing out when it came to funding for bloom challenges.

Then a Marske resident claimed his community had to play second fiddle to high-profile Saltburn.

Mr Eric Henderson, aged 78, said his village was not as well looked after as Saltburn.

Coun Kay said: "The whole of East Cleveland could have been transformed with what has been spent on Saltburn's entry in a global floral contest."

Furious ward Coun Barbara Harpham said: "Coun Kay does a great disservice to the people of Saltburn when he attacks success in bloom challenges.

"It is the people of Saltburn who have achieved international fame and make the town a credit to the borough, not the council. The only extras come on the day before judging to tidy up the area.

"Residents give hours of work and pay to beautify the town."

Miss Taylor, of the volunteer Saltburn 500 group, agreed.

"I suggest people in other communities ring the council and they will help," she said.

She said volunteers had put 76 flower tubs around Saltburn at their own expense and put up 400 hanging baskets which needed fund-raising of £5,000.

"We take a pride in where we live and only ask for the help the council are able to give," said Miss Taylor.

"I would hope other towns entering challenges would get an extra clean-up and I am sad that some did not get the help they thought they should.

"But we work jolly hard. I personally put in 40 to 50 hours a week of voluntary work in Saltburn.

"We have been quite upset by what is being said. But the answer is not for Saltburn to do less, but for others to do more and we are happy to give any help we can."

Coun Sylvia Szintai, the lead

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