HUNDREDS of hanging baskets are due to be installed to spruce up Furness town centres.

Barrow Council is due to spend up to £50,000 to adorn Barrow and Dalton with baskets and planters in the spring and summer.

The project to install the floral displays is due to last for at least two years.

The aim of the project is to 'enhance' the appearance of the two town centres.

It follows the closure of several shops in Barrow town centre while empty units subject to vandalism.

Describing the plan in a contract tender, the council said: "Barrow BC wish to contract with an organisation that will create high quality seasonal floral displays with hanging baskets, barrier baskets, tiered planters and tubs to enhance the overall visual appearance of Barrow and Dalton's town centres.

"The maximum budget for the work is £50,000 per annum and the contract length is two years from 6 November 2022, with the possibility of a three year extension."

The tender described how up to £50,000 would be spent on installing 200 hanging baskets and 10 planters in spring and summer in Barrow.

Nine planters would be installed in Dalton. 

Work has already to improve Barrow town centre with £200,000 of the Government’s Welcome Back to the High Street fund used to install pagodas, planters and benches on Dalton Road.

Barrow MP Simon Fell: said “I know how concerned people are about the future of our High Streets. This is an important step, alongside the £16million awarded to transform the market and the Forum as part of the Levelling Up Fund, to getting people back into town, and turning the town centre around.”

Large parts of Portland Walk have also been left needing to be spruced up following the closure of several stores.

The former Debenhams, WH Smith, Body Shop and British Heart Foundation are now completed boarded up to deter vandals after the units were targeted.