The borough’s stellar record in the London In Bloom competition has been maintained despite the Council pulling out of the contest, as Croydon BID stepped up to collect a silver award for their efforts.

Croydon has achieved repeated success at London In Bloom, winning the Large City category four years in a row and picking up a gold award and London In Bloom Champion of Champions last year.

This year to save £100,000, the council chose not to enter, leading Croydon BID to take up the challenge.

Maria Chapman-Beer, Interim Chief Executive of Croydon BID, received the silver award at a ceremony at City Hall on Friday, September 16.

She said: “The Croydon BID-funded element of the Town Centre’s greening projects has always formed the core of Croydon in Bloom and we are proud to have been able to continue and expand our contribution in 2011.

“Winning a silver award in this year’s London in Bloom competition is testament to the hard work of all those involved in the project.”

The group installed more than 160 hanging baskets in the Town Centre over the summer period, in addition to the octagonal planters and barrier baskets it maintains throughout the year.

It also took over planting two flower beds in the Town Centre, by East Croydon Station at the junction of George Street and Wellesley Road, the at Reeves Corner.

Commenting on the entry, the judges’ report said: “We appreciated the obvious effort made by the leaders of Croydon BID.

“During our tour we met key members of BID and those involved with security, community support, a managing agent for an area of shops, street cleaners and the market traders’ organiser.

“All these people were welcoming and enthusiastic in their efforts to make Croydon a better centre for the businesses located there.”