Lowestoft Railway Station has received a colourful boost with 20 hanging baskets being installed courtesy of volunteers from Lowestoft in Bloom.

The station baskets contain an array of flowers in shades of blue, purple and white, complementing two boats converted last year into planters, and other displays under the care of the volunteer station adopter and Lowestoft Central Project team.

The Wherry Lines Community Rail Partnership has also funded specialist pumping equipment to enable the baskets and containers to be watered regularly throughout the summer.

With restrictions in place due to the continuing Coronavirus crisis, some activities originally planned by Lowestoft in Bloom for 2020 have been curtailed, with their popular annual competition restructured.

Jenny Hearth, on behalf of Lowestoft In Bloom, said: “Lowestoft in Bloom is proud to be working with the station again and we continue to work behind the scenes to ensure that Lowestoft does indeed bloom again this year.

“Observing social distancing guidelines, our small team of volunteers set up a rota for planting and watering the baskets at the Hollies Nurseries in Blundeston, headquarters of our community project.”

“Due to restrictions, this year’s annual Lowestoft in Bloom competition will take a different format.

“As many people have sought solace in their gardens, a revised competition has been devised to reflect this, with full details and application forms now available on our Facebook page.”

This year’s Lowestoft in Bloom online gardening competition is open to everyone in the NR32 and NR33 postcodes and runs until August 31.

Chairman of the Wherry Lines Community Rail Partnership, Roger Foulger, added: “We are delighted that Lowestoft In Bloom has been able to support the efforts of the Partnership and the Lowestoft Central Project to once again provide some beautiful displays at Lowestoft Railway Station.

“We very much appreciate the extra work involved in safely planting and nurturing these arrangements in such difficult times.”

Alan Neville, Greater Anglia’s Community and Customer Engagement manager, said: “We are grateful to Lowestoft In Bloom, the Wherry Lines Community Rail Partnership, Jacqui our station adopter and the Lowestoft Central Project for their continued efforts to enhance Lowestoft Station.

“Although during the current pandemic, the advice remains not to travel unless absolutely necessary, these colourful displays will be a welcome sight to those key workers, and any other passengers making essential journeys, who are passing through the station.”