FIRMS in Teesside are being invited to help make a town bright and beautiful for summer.

Middlesbrough Borough Council has launched a scheme for businesses to sponsor roundabouts and boundary signs, in return for help maintaining and improving flower planting.

Organisations including the University of Teesside, Stockton and Billingham College and Samsung Electronics have already signed up to the scheme and they joined council representatives yesterday to launch the initiative.

Commissioner for the Environment, Councillor Ken Hall, said: "This is a scheme which offers something for everyone.

"It helps us provide good, clear signs across town and extra resources for making the town look better. For the companies involved it is a tremendous advertising opportunity."