A blooming riot of colour is brightening up Sheerness town centre, despite an attempt by vandals to put the boot in.

Nine planters around the clock tower are bursting over with geraniums, French marigolds, petunias and lobelia thanks to a joint Sheppey Tourism Alliance (STA) and Sheppey Matters’ initiative.

The two organisations decided to take action after community campaigner, Peter MacDonald, pointed out how run-down the planters looked – full of dead plants and weeds.

With about £150 of plants and tools to carry out the job, donated by Sheerness businesses Chainstore Massacre and Car Home & Garden, the planters were given a new lease of life with help from members of Sheerness-based East Kent Mencap and Jill Read, Swale council’s regeneration officer.

Ward & Partners and the Secondhand Furniture Shop, have agreed to maintain and water the planters.

But only days after the session, one of the planters was vandalised and blooms ripped out.

STA chairman Heather Thomas-Pugh said: “It is very, very disappointing, although I am not surprised.

“But you have to hope. If you don’t do these things, nothing would ever get done.

“It’s just a matter of continuing until people stop this sort of anti-social behaviour.”