ROSSENDALE will be in full bloom later this year when a scheme to brighten up part of the Valley is introduced.

More than £13,000 of funding has been budgeted for the scheme thanks to the Friends of Riverside Park Group, Rossendale Council and Groundwork Rossendale.

Business in Rossendale are being asked to dig deep to boost the campaign further and help make Bacup and Stacksteads the most floral place around.

The funding will see hundreds of specialised hanging baskets - that only require watering twice a week rather than every day - put up all over the two towns.

The baskets will be watered and looked after by horticultural students studying at Bacup's Stubbylee depot.

Frances Whitehead, Friends of Riverside Park treasurer, said the group has arranged, planted, hung and watered the baskets themselves in previous years.

But thanks extra funding she said it is hoped Bacup and Stacksteads would come alive with an explosion of colour.

She said: "People have already started showing an interest but we are going to do a mail drop targeted at businesses in the area asking for their support as we believe the scheme will really help brighten up the place.

"In the past we have had problems watering the baskets every day but the new baskets have special water reservoirs which means they only have to be watered twice a week."

Stacksteads councillor Christine Lamb said she hopes people will pull together to get the community to bloom with pride.

Coun Lamb added: "The plan is to create a splash of colour opposite the Rose and Bowl car park, place hanging baskets at Toll Bar and put them on the lamps down to the Path of History at Iron Bridge as well as planting them all over Bacup.

"I think it's a marvellous idea. It will help give people a sense of pride while also providing a warm and positive welcome to anybody coming into Bacup and Stacksteads."