Britain In Bloom winners who were told by council 'jobsworths' to complete ... trends now
Britain In Bloom winners who were told by the council to complete a safety course before hanging baskets on lampposts are saved after well-wishers offered to cover the costs.
The award-winning floral displays of Chatteris in Bloom became threatened when new council rules said they would have to complete a safety course to be able to hang the baskets in the market town.
Anyone involved in the operation would be required to take part in the £165 programme, another option was to hire a contractor to put their flower arrangements up.
Fears over electrocution on lampposts meant the Cambridgeshire-based group, which have won gold at Britain in Bloom and Anglia in Bloom, were not able to hang their own baskets.
However, the group president revealed that an outpouring of support has meant they will be able to put up their displays after businesses offered to pay the course fees and another volunteer group - with the training - offered their services.
Sue Unwin, 64, said: 'Our community is well and truly behind us - we've had businesses offering to pay for the course for us to put the hanging baskets up.
Chatteris in Bloom president Sue Unwin, 64, pictured, has revealed that an outpouring of support has meant they will be able to put up their displays
Floral hanging baskets pictured in Chatteris, Cambridgeshire on a lamppost
'Even further afield in neighbouring towns, we've had people offer to pay for any time someone may need to take off from work.
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Britain In Bloom winners are told by council 'jobsworths' to complete £165 safety course before hanging baskets on lampposts
'They said they appreciate the work that is done by volunteers - we give thousands of our hours to make people proud of our town.
'The Chatteris Christmas Light's committee were hit by the same rules and have one member of their volunteer group who is able to put the hanging baskets up.
'That person has kindly offered to help us out so our baskets will go up this month.'
Mrs Unwin said people had felt 'angry and disillusioned' at the Cambridgeshire County Council's new rules over the health and safety of 'live' lampposts.
She said: 'It's just ridiculous. None of us are going to pay that much money to do a safety course for something we've been doing for the last 20 years.
'We work as little gnomes with wheelbarrows putting two hanging baskets either side on the lamppost and a farmer would put them halfway up, really early in the morning so we didn't disturb anyone.
'I think the council is trying to kill community spirit.'
She added that the group had received an overwhelming amount of support over the last few days but there was more to it than just the council's obstruction.
She said: 'There
