ABERYSTWYTH businesses will be asked to pick up the slack and chip in to pay for the town’s flowers after Ceredigion council axed funding to provide the seasonal blooms.

Aberystwyth Town Council has agreed to fund the “core provision” of flowers in the town, but members heard at a meeting last Monday that businesses will have to help out to keep the current level of planters and pots.

Councillors said they are currently looking for individuals, groups and businesses to sponsor the pots and planters along North Parade and in the centre of town.

Cllr Jeff Smith told members that the withdrawal of county council funding for the flowers leaves the council “in a bad situation”.

“We will pay to provide a core provision but we can’t find the money to fund the whole thing,” he said. “If all the flowers are to be kept around the town, we need help.

“We are making a call for groups and individuals and businesses to help out to keep the flowers for the year to come.

Anyone interested in sponsoring a planter or helping pay for town flowers is asked to contact the town council via email at [email protected] or by phone on 01970 624761.

See this week’s south editions for the full story, in shops and online tomorrow