TRADERS in Norton say they are being left out on a limb in trying to brighten up their village.

They claim Stockton council has done little or nothing to help the village prepare for its first entry in the Northumbria in Bloom contest.

They are angry at reports that Yarm has received help from the borough in making its bid for honours and another serious bone of contention is Yarm being officially labelled: Gateway to Stockton.

"What could be a more appropriate gateway to Stockton than the ancient capital of Norton," asked one angry trader, Mrs Jennifer Pinder. "It should be the jewel in Stockton's crown, not an afterthought."

Residents and members of the local business association are considering forming a parish council in a bid to get things done.

Judges from Northumbria in Bloom inspected the village on Monday.

Mrs Pinder, who runs a florist's shop, said any good impressions would be down to the hard work of volunteers.

The clean-up was spearheaded by Take Pride in Your Village, a group which she founded with local artist, Linda Barton. They have organised hanging baskets, flower tubs and roundabout planting in a bid to spruce up Norton.

Businesses gave more than £1,200, cubs and scouts were drafted in and residents cleaned out the duck pond daily.

"We have not had a penny from the council or much help," she said. "Workmen came in a flurry of activity three days before the judging, but we even had to clear up after them."

Mrs Pinder criticised residents who dumped sacks of rubbish by the village green.

"The scouts were cleaning up on Monday and someone was dumping rubbish as they worked," she said.

She said the council had said there was no money to help Norton.

"Yet Yarm has had a whole roundabout planted and has been hailed as the gateway to Stockton," she said.

"We have had to do everything ourselves and we are so disgusted we are thinking of forming a parish council similar to that in Yarm to give us more clout.

"Every night for the last three months group members have cleaned debris from the duck pond. This is work the council should be doing."

Mrs Pinder said this year is the first time Norton has entered the bloom contest. "I think it will be the last," she said.

"We will still be around as a group, but tidying up Norton has been nearly a full-time job. We feel completely neglected."

Among those helping the campaign is Meadowfield nursery owner, Mr Ronnie Caygill, who has planted out one roundabout with his own plants free of charge.

"Norton was looking a bit untidy but it is very nice now," he said.

"This is the first time we have entered the Northumbria in Bloom contest and it's a start even if we don't win.

"It's great for the whole village to be involved in a tidy-up. It gives people a sense of pride in their surroundings."

A spokesman for Stockton council said: "To our knowledge, help it is said Yarm received did not come from the education, cultural and leisure services department."