SOMEBODY made a bloomer that took the shine off parts of a brighter borough.

Contract renewal delays and a period of hot, dry weather meant that flowers and plants strategically place to provide a welcoming sight around Tyldesley's one-way system went unwatered.

They drooped, withered and died, as the planter pictured outside Tyldesley public baths, illustrates.

A Wigan Council spokesman admitted to the Journal: "The contact finished on the March 31 and it took a while for this year’s arrangements to be confirmed which pushed everything back significantly.

"By the time we got clearance we were so close to the Easter weekend that the nursery needed to focus on garden centre stock. We did try to rescue main town centres, but for some areas it was a little too late.

"You can assure readers of our commitment to Leigh, Tyldesley and Atherton in our Borough in Bloom campaign."