ALL he wanted to do was bring a little colour to his street.

So to add a touch of spring to West Totton green-fingered dad Derek Caplen spent his own time and money planting 200 bulbs along the grass verges near his home.

But he was stunned when a council workman beheaded many of his 200 flowers just as they were begining to sprout.

He said: "I planted these flowers to make the area a little bit nicer and lift everyone's spirits.

"If everyone did their bit to make their patch a little nicer it would make a real difference.

"I think what the council has done is almost criminal.We always hear about kids damaging property but this is no different to vandalism."

Derek, of Eastmere Court, spent £20 on the bulbs and more than an hour-and-a-half on his hands and knees planting them.

The 49-year-old upholsterer is well known for his gardening prowess and featured in TV documentary Britain's Best Back Garden in 2004 for his Saints-themed floral display.

New Forest District Council confirmed one of its workers had chopped some of the the daffodils as they manoeuvred a lawnmower.

He added: "I have left a message on Mr Caplen's answerphone apologising for what's happened.

"We hope as these were new bulbs they won't have been damaged but we will be laying some fertiliser on the verge so hopefully they will be fine for next year."

The verges used to be covered in bushes but these were removed when they became overgrown.