DISAPPOINTED city residents have dug deep to bring colour to their neighbourhood to help make up for the lack of hanging baskets in Winchester.

Prior to the city council's U-turn -- following the Tories winning back control of the council chamber -- members of the Upper Brook Street Neighbourhood Watch team rallied their street to help them brighten up the area.

Meanwhile, a pair of Winchester businesswomen are hoping for a blooming good trade this summer.

Lynne Sayers and Lynn Rawlings, who run Extasis, are predicting a boom in their fake flower business for people keen to save water.

Upper Brook Street residents Lesley Gillon, Brenda Dovey and Elizabeth Nation asked residents if they could donate plants.

Mrs Nation, who teaches Ikebana -- Japanese floral sculpture -- and is a member of Winchester Flower Arrangement Society, said they had an excellent response.

"We sent a letter to all the Neighbourhood Watch people in our street, and they're coming up trumps," she said.

Several donations of plants were received, including thyme, lavender and holly bushes.

Residents have now installed them in a planter beside the road, which was left empty by the council.

It stands close to another planter, in which the authority placed a collection of thyme, lavender, and rosemary some time ago.

Residents are intending to maintain both of them throughout the summer by using waste water from their homes.

Extasis sells hanging baskets containing realistic-looking fake flowers for £37.50, which last for up to three years, and do not need watering.

For more information on the fake hanging baskets, call 01962 881424.