BACKING has been given by Sidmouth Town Council to the decision by Sidmouth in Bloom to enter the 2010 South West in Bloom competition.

BACKING has been given by Sidmouth Town Council to the decision by Sidmouth in Bloom to enter the 2010 South West in Bloom competition.

Councillor Mary Jolly, town council representative on the bloom committee, told fellow councillors at Monday's September meeting: "We are ready now.

"The committee has considered the issue of cleanliness through the town. A lot of people say it is not quite up to scratch."

She said assurances had been given by StreetScene at East Devon District Council that it would be looking good in time for the contest.

Joy Seward, president of Sidmouth in Bloom, said: "It is really exciting news, we are all looking forward to entering the competition in 2010 and we are going for gold.

"Not entering this year was definitely the right thing to do. It has given us time to check things and look at what we need to do."

She said expansion work at Waitrose had disrupted its Jurassic display and work at Woolworths' old store would have affected judging.

"We are hoping the building opposite Woolworths will be tidied up, we want the town to pull together so we will have a tidy town. We lose marks for untidy buildings," she said.

Various events are planned to raise money for next year's entry, including a mulled wine, mince pie and coffee morning at St John's Hall, Blackmore Drive, on Friday, December 18.

M&Co, which has taken over Woolworths' site, has agreed to host a fashion show at Sidford Social Hall on November 13 for the bloom committee.

Joy said: "We will be having children as well as adults clothing being shown and all proceeds will be for Sidmouth in Bloom funds."

It is expected to start at 7.00pm and end around 8.30pm. Tickets, which will be limited, are �3.50 for adults, with children free and will be on sale soon.