Sheerness has been given a bloomin’ boost of flowers for the summer – thanks to the town team and Island schools.

Pupils from the Oasis Academy’s east site at Minster and Year 2 youngsters from St Edward’s Roman Catholic Primary School in Sheerness joined forces on Tuesday to put a bit of colour into nine tubs around the clock tower in the High Street and the Broadway.

Town team chairman John Nurden said: “It was wonderful to see the youngsters enjoying themselves and also helping the town at the same time.”

The primary school children aged six and seven were split into teams to tackle a tub each.

“The older Oasis pupils lent a hand as teachers and helpers mucked in to clean out the remains of the old flowers and weeds and replace them with a new stock provided by Blue Town Garden Centre.

The £400 cost of the flowers was met by the Town Team. Sheerness Enhancement Association for Leisure (Seal) has agreed to water the tubs with a team from the Island Partnership.

Matt Waghorn, of Blue Town Garden Centre, said: “We have tried to give Sheerness a seaside feel with a Cannova in each tub surrounded by red geraniums and blue lobelia.”

Mr Nurden added: “Sheerness needed brightening up for the summer. The money was more than we had budgeted for but we felt Sheerness deserved good quality flowers.

"I am hoping they will be allowed to grow so they can be enjoyed by all our shoppers and visitors.”

Additional surveillance to keep an eye on the tubs at night has been requested from the closed circuit security television team.

Mr Nurden said: “We are aware there has been vandalism in the past but we need to preserve the flowers for the sake of Sheerness.

"I am hoping shopkeepers and residents will all help to keep the flowers safe and alert police if they see any problems. The town’s enforcement team has also agreed to keep a special watch.”

For more on the Sheerness Town Team, click here