BLOOMING 'eck - it's that time of year again. Summer is bursting out all over, and residents and community groups have a major role to play in ensuring that the array of splendid colour is here to stay and be enjoyed.

Prizes are up for grabs in the council-run Bury Metro In Bloom competition.

This aims to encourage better floral displays and increase awareness of the need to improve the local environment through horticulture and self-help projects involving lesiure or education.

The council's Parks and Countryside Unit has been helped by the sponsorship of Summerseat Garden Centre and the committed support of the Bury Times Group of Newspapers, and the 1998 competition can be followed in this newspaper.

There's bound to be a category for everyone, whether you're a house-holder proud of your garden, a pub landlord with well kept grounds or a display of hanging baskets and window boxes.

Or perhaps you're a member of a community group involved on a long-term project to clean up a local "grot spot".

These categories are :

Household garden: prizes for the top three.

Backyard, balcony and small patio garden: again, top three.

Community centre, hospital, care and rest home, medical centre, place of worship, community garden.

Retail premises, shops, small office.

Public house, restaurant, hotel, leisure centre.

Large trade, industrial, commercial premises (including garage forecourts and car showrooms).

School's environmental projects.

The mayor's Environment Prize. This is given for effort and enterprise in cleaning up and maintaining neglected and derelict areas of the local community.

Entry forms are available from the Parks and Countryside Unit, Department of Competitive Services, Craig House, 5 Bank Street, Bury BL9 0DN. Judging takes place at the end of July.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.