A COUNTY councillor hopes to save Durham's annual autumn horticultural show on its 30th anniversary.

Durham City Council has decided to axe the event, held over three days, because it says entries are falling and the cost of staging it is exceeding its budget.

Instead, the Liberal Democrat-controlled authority plans to give local shows the chance to apply for grants from the money that would have been spent on the district-wide event.

But the Labour Durham county councillor for Gilesgate, Peter Thompson, is hoping to rescue the show from oblivion.

He hopes to be able to celebrate the show's 30th anniversary with a new-look event at County Hall rather than the Town Hall or Gala Theatre.

"In my view it was an appalling decision and there was no consultation,'' he said.

"All the gardeners have set their stuff away for this year's show, but they will be left in the lurch.

"I can't understand it. We have a city that has won so many prizes in Britain in Bloom and this is a slight on the people who helped the city win.''

Coun Thompson, who said several gardening enthusiasts had complained to him about the show's loss, said he hopes to form a voluntary organising committee.

He hopes to get free use of the county council's headquarters for the dates in September that the show was due to have been held on.

"Because we have free parking and access is readily available there should not be the problems that were said to be problems with the venues in the city centre."

Anyone interested in helping can contact him on 07798 816737.