A GARDENER is worried that his chances of competing in the Melksham in Bloom contest could be hampered because a neighbouring garden is covered in six-foot-high nettles.

Bryan Sandford from Montague Place in Melksham says the garden at the Foresters Arms has been in a mess for the last three months.

Mr Sandford said: "I had a meeting with the pub manager and area manager about three months ago and they promised they would sort it out but now they've told me they don't employ gardeners and have asked me to do it.

"I am worried about the state of the garden because I enter the Melksham in Bloom contest every year for charity and the state of the pub's garden won't help."

The landlord of the Forester's Arms, Stephen Carr, believes he has made every effort to help cure the weed problems.

Mr Carr said: "My area manager, Chris Jones, asked Mr Sandford if he would like to buy some weedkiller of his choice to kill off the weeds. We offered to reimburse him for the weedkiller and give him a bottle of wine for his trouble but he has just told us to get lost.

"I will get round to sorting out his problem as I am gradually sorting out the garden, but this inclement weather is really slowing me down."