A COUNCIL has been accused of being cold-hearted about helping East Cleveland villages prepare for a floral challenge.

Redcar and Cleveland Coun Steve Kay says the authority should be ashamed for not sending road-sweeping teams into Margrove Park and Charltons in the run-up to a judges' visit.

Coun Kay says he spent an hour picking up rubbish in a bid to ensure the communities were at their best.

The Northumbria in Bloom judging was last Thursday and the villages had asked to have the streets swept in advance.

"But the work was not done so I rang the council and was told it was against policy to sweep the roads of communities in Northumbria in Bloom," said Coun Kay, who represents Lockwood and Skinningrove ward.

"I couldn't believe it. The road linking the villages was being swept at the time and it would have taken no more than half an hour to do the actual communities."

Last year, Margrove Park won the best small village section and Charltons has also done well in the Northumbria in Bloom contest.

"These people are trying to beautify their communities and it is a feather in Redcar and Cleveland's cap when they do well, yet they do nothing to help," said Coun Kay.

"I spent an hour picking up rubbish because I was so ashamed of the state everything was left in. It was disgraceful.

"The council should be ashamed. I really thought they would help out. It is so cold-hearted."

A spokesman for the council said Coun Kay's comments were being taken seriously and there would be an investigation.

Saltburn was also looking its best for the judges' visit.

More than 350 hanging baskets and 70 flower tubs were on show in and around the town centre.

Community volunteers have raised thousands for the town's challenge in a bid to equal the success of previous years