THE council is set to spend £70,000 on bedding plants for the city centre.

A spokesman for City of York Council confirmed that the local authority is looking for a company to plant spring and summer flowers including pansies, wallflowers and geraniums.

He added that the scheme will see new plants put in the existing flowerbeds across the city centre, which are replanted twice a year.

The £70,000 contract is for four years and the council spokesman said no new or additional flowerbeds will be created under the plans.

York Business Improvement District also announced last October that it will be installing floral displays across the city this summer.

In 2018 the city hosted its first festival - Bloom - dedicated to all things floral.

As part of the celebrations the BID put together 70 displays, from free-standing flower towers to planters wrapped around lampposts.

The organisation’s manifesto includes a commitment to enhance floral displays in the city.

Following the success of Bloom, Visit York also announced the event would be returning this summer for two days in Dean’s Park.

The festival will take place on June 22 and 23 and will offer people the “chance to celebrate the positive impact of gardening and plants on our daily lives”.

A garden inspired by York Minster and created by staff and students from Askham Bryan College will also be installed at the Coppergate Centre for next month’s festival.

Yew hedging will be used to represent the city walls, while decorative tree supports reflect the Minster’s flying buttresses.