MEET the woman with a blooming good idea for Huddersfield.

Sue Kershaw wants to brighten up the town for the summer by bringing back an “In Bloom” contest.

And the Bradley farm shop owner wants businesses across the town to get involved.

She believes the town’s shops, pubs, offices and firms can all do their bit for the sake of just a few pounds.

And Sue, who owns the Villa Farm Shop at Bradley Bar, said: “I want to see our community spirit come to the fore and people to help brighten up the town.

“Life can be pretty dull in these days of austerity, with all the stories of economic gloom, and I hope this will help put a smile on people’s faces.”

Huddersfield used to run In Bloom competitions, but both Kirklees Council and the Huddersfield Town Centre Partnership have been unable to provide funding in recent years.

Sue was the last winner of the In Bloom trophy and when she heard there was nothing in the pipeline for a new contest, she took it on herself to get one started.

She has enlisted the help of several Kirklees officials, including Paul Marshall, who runs the authority’s plant nurseries at Bradley, and Nigel Hancock, who helps look after the parks.

The nurseries grow hundreds of thousands of plants a year and will provide hanging baskets and displays for firms who are willing to pay for them.

Sue said: “It need not cost a lot and an office can brighten up their frontage with a hanging basket full of plants and watered all summer for about £40.

“I’d love to see all the shops, big and small, through the town centre with hanging baskets or flower displays outside. And all the pubs could play a part with displays, too.

“It is early days and we don’t know how much support we will get but surely the whole town will look brighter if there are so many more flowers about.

“There has been a similar scheme in Halifax for years and they have organised things like Plant Swaps.

“We may not be going down that road yet, but we want to do our bit.”

Firms and businesses who want to get involved can contact Sue via:

huddersfield.inbloom@gmail.com