ENTHUSIASTIC volunteers are being sought for a planting day next week to help bring colour to Alloa.

Alloa in Bloom is hoping to repeat last year's Gold Award success as part of the Keep Scotland Beautiful's Beautiful Scotland scheme.

Judging will take place later in August and as a first step, some 1,000 plants will be put into hanging baskets and other containers on Tuesday, June 6.

An army of volunteers, including from town centre businesses, organisations and members of the community are expected with people meeting at the top of the High Street from 10am.

People are being encouraged to head along and lend a hand, even if just for an hour.

Diane Brown, project manager at Alloa First which supports Alloa in Bloom, explained no experience is necessary; people only need to bring their enthusiasm.

She said: “We are hoping for a nice, dry, sunny day and that everybody will come out to support us and help just for an hour or two to help make the town look more colourful.

“The hanging baskets always bring a feel-good factor to the town centre and we always get complimented on our efforts.”

The plan for the day is to ensure barrels and planters are all complete with floral arrangements while there will also be nearly 90 hanging baskets for businesses and 32 hanging baskets on the lampposts on Mill and High streets.

It is understood baskets chosen for this year will help ensure more water is retained as this has been a struggle over the years.

Funding has also been secured from the Fair Work Incentive to employ a former volunteer part-time to ensure plants are watered regularly.

Alloa in Bloom has also been gifted large unused planters which were located at roundabouts into the town to help enhance the display.

The theme from Keep Scotland Beautiful this year is health and wellbeing while organisers are also connecting the display to the upcoming UCI Cycling World Championships.

This will involve a few bikes being utilised for floral basket displays which will be tied to railings around the town and further ideas are welcome.

Diane added: “This year could be our last year as Alloa First [as a business improvement district organisation] goes back to ballot in October – that's when the businesses will decide if we carry on for another five years.

“If we don't get voted back in there'll be no budget for any of the planting or the hanging baskets in future years so I am hoping everybody gets behind to support that.”

It is understood some 1,000 plants will be arriving on the day – all from Scottish Autism's Gartinny Nursery.