Children have been helping Maryport prepare for Cumbria in Bloom.

Town clerk Lisa Douglas said she expects that all schools will have helped in cleaning up areas of the town before judging on July 14, weather permitting.

Councillor Thomas Todd, who is leading Maryport's Cumbria in Bloom effort this year, said he has been working with the community and is confident that he will have plenty to show the judges.

However, Councillor Carni McCarron-Holmes was upset that the floral arrangements around town had not followed the nautical theme the council had agreed on.

She said: "I suggested a Maritime Maryport theme. We agreed that the flowers would be blue, green and purple.

"Instead they are red or pink, white and blue - there is no pink in the sea."

Finance and general purposes chairwoman Carol Tindall said there had been a mix-up, for which she apologised.

She said she had originally forgotten and told the contractor red, white and blue.

Town clerk Paul Bramley had corrected the contractors but then they rang Coun Tindall again.

She said: "I was an hour from going into surgery and was distracted. They asked me again what colours and I repeated what I had said. I apologise."

Coun McCarron-Holmes said it was most disappointing and she felt the floral displays in the town could have reflected Maryport's heritage.