A ROW has blown up after flowers removed from display were not brought back.

Window boxes at Ripon Town Hall were bursting with colour to mark the re-election of mayor Stuart Martin.

But only hours after, the blooms were removed.

It had been expected that the flowers would return only a few days later for one of the biggest days in Ripon's calendar, the Ripon Weekend.

But the boxes remained empty as the 38 Engineer Regiment exercised their freedom of Ripon by marching through the city.

Now Councillor Martin, a member of Ripon City Council and Harrogate Borough Council, has called for a written apology from Harrogate Borough Council, which is responsible for the floral displays, over the mix-up.

He said he accepted the flowers could not remain in place between events because of the danger of frost-damage, but he said it was a disgraceful snub to Ripon that there were no flowers outside the town hall to mark an event such as the march-past.

Among those taking the salute were two Chelsea Pensioners.

A borough council spokesman said the lack of flower displays at the town hall had been an oversight, for which the council apologised.

He said the displays in Ripon and Harrogate were only temporary for the mayoral inauguration ceremonies, and that there was no outside planting until after June 1 because of the threat of frost.