A £10,300 grant has set Sidmouth in Bloom (SiB) on its way to another blossoming year – and now it is reaching out to the community once again.

Open garden events, sponsorship, trips and its ‘friends’ scheme all bring in funds and support its efforts to make the town beautiful.

The Sid Vale Association (SVA) provided the biggest chunk from its Keith Owen Fund but SiB chairman Lynette Talbot said every contribution helps.

“We’re thrilled to have this support from the Keith Owen Fund,” she said. “We’re dependent on sponsorship from businesses and contributions from people in Sidmouth.

“The floral displays, Triangle stands, several gardens – none of these things happen unless we have support.”

SVA president Handel Bennett said: “We’ve always been enthusiastic supporters of SiB, which makes a tremendous contribution to the welcome we give to visitors into the town.

“We’re tremendously impressed by the work of the committee and hope they achieve gold this year.”