Council plans to slash by half the number of gardeners dedicated to looking after Dartmouth's jewel in the crown Royal Avenue Gardens could dent the town's hopes of a gold in the national bloom stakes, according to a worried town councillor.

Former Dartmouth gardens boss Les Barnes said South Hams Council is looking to cut the three-strong garden team to one gardener and an apprentice.

He said the council would also be bringing in a seasonal worker to help out and was aiming to set up a 'mobile gang' of workers to travel to sites across the district as part of a major operations shake up.

'This is one cut too many,' he said. 'If they are only doing general maintenance in the future, then Dartmouth can never expect to win a gold in Britain in Bloom.

But while South Hams Council confirmed it was carrying out a review of its grounds maintenance service, a spokesman said 'its proposals will not reduce the amount of resources spent in the Dartmouth area on the provision of garden maintenance, grass cutting and similar activities'.

Dartmouth is currently engaged in one of its biggest Britain in Bloom efforts for years after being invited to compete in the national competition.

At the same time the local bloom team has had to cope with the closure of its community greenhouse which has been deemed too structurally dangerous to use.

In the past, the South Hams Council's garden team has picked up regional bloom awards for its efforts in the Royal Avenue Gardens.

More on this story in this week's Dartmouth Chronicle