Bloxwich says it with flowers at last

Flower power has come to Bloxwich in the form of a Diamond Jubilee tribute – after heavy rain finally let up long enough for gardeners to get to work.

Hundreds of flowers have been planted in the town's Promenade Gardens to spell out a tribute to the Queen's 60-year reign.

It had been hoped the flowers would be planted earlier but heavy rain had put work on hold.

Gardeners got to work at the site off High Street yesterday. The blooms spell out the dates 1952 and 2012, while the third flower bed contains the letter ER.

The red, white, blue and silver floral display is also part of the Bloxwich in Bloom bid and will help brighten up the town ahead of the Olympic Torch relay on June 30.

Stuart Ball, a team leader for groundworks at Walsall Council Street Pride, said: "We have now finished planting all the flowers. It's looking really good. I think there may be rain expected later this week which will help to bed the flowers in and hopefully they will be looking great by the time the torch relay passes through here on June 30."

Entertainment has been organised to mark the Olympic torch passing through Bloxwich.

It will arrive in Bloxwich at around 11.58am when it enters Walsall borough on the A34 Stafford Road to the north of Bloxwich.

It will then follow the A34 into Bloxwich High Street along Somerfield Road and Green Lane towards Walsall town centre.