ONLY two years ago, the future of hanging baskets in Acle looked less than rosy.But now it seems the village cannot get enough of the blooms and with the summer season starting, the 31 hanging baskets are set to return from lamp-posts surrounding The Green and The Street from today.

ONLY two years ago, the future of hanging baskets in Acle looked less than rosy.

But now it seems the village cannot get enough of the blooms and with the summer season starting, the 31 hanging baskets are set to return from lamp-posts surrounding The Green and The Street from today.

Pauline James, clerk of Acle Parish Council, said five people had applied to water and feed the baskets between May and September, in stark contrast to two years ago when the council struggled to persuade villagers to take on the role.

She said: “Now we have got a waiting list of people who want to water the plants. We have appointed the same three who did the job last year.”

In February 2008, the Mercury reported how the blooms, which helped Acle secure the Calor Gas Best Kept Village award in 1998, were faced with the possibility of withering away after nobody responded to advertising for a paid waterer on village noticeboards and in the village newsletter.

Waterers have to be able to spare at least an hour seven nights a week visiting each basket and have to be able to handle a heavy water tank on a wheelbarrow which pumps water through a pipe attached to a long arm secured to the basket.