A DEPRIVED former mining community is to enter the Northumbria in Bloom competition.

Plans were shelved for a joint entry in the contest, featuring five villages in the Stanley area, after the Bloomers action group failed to secure funding for the project.

But this week, members of the Bloomers found out they had won a £3,000 grant from the County Durham Foundation.

The cash will go on a Northumbria in Bloom entry for Craghead, near Stanley.

Marie Robson, group secretary, said: "We originally intended to enter the whole of the Green Corridor, which included South Moor, South Stanley, New Kyo and Quaking Houses. We were unsuccessful in gaining support from the Green Corridor Partnership, in December 2003, but decided to go ahead with our own local ward instead."

The grant will go towards promoting the event and buying plants, tools and materials.

South Stanley Woods Group, Derwentside District Council, Craghead Area Partnership and environmental group Groundworks West Durham are backing the bid.

The Northumbria in Bloom entry follows the success of a "mini-bloom" competition which will take place again in July and is open to residents in the Craghead area.

Entrants will be competing for the Brian Ince Memorial Cup, in memory of the Bloomers chairman, who died in February from motor neurone disease.

The group needs volunteers to help prepare for the Northumbria in Bloom judges' visits in April and July.

For details, contact Mrs Robson on (01207) 290639, or visit www.greencorridorbloomers.co.uk