Oxford will not enter the prestigious Britain in Bloom competition for the first time in 23 years after a Town Hall budget cut.

Despite winning the competition three times in recent years, the city of dreaming of spires will become a city of barren flower beds after the council pruned £40,000 from its budget.

Although the budget cuts will not affect city centre floral displays too badly, the organisers of Oxford's Britain in Bloom bid decided to withdraw because of a lack of flower beds in Cowley, Headington and Summertown.

The organisers are still hopeful of entering Cowley into the urban category of the competition for the first time, but they need £5,000 from the Cowley area committee to make it happen.

When the city council cut its budget there had been hopes that area committees might come to the rescue.

But, as Oxford in Bloom is launched tomorrow, committee chairman Karen Roberts said: "We are not entering Britain in Bloom. It's very disappointing because we have always been a big player in the competition.

"We think we have made the right decision though.

"We don't want to be entering the competition when we can't put on as a good a show as in previous years.

"There's a lot of frustration here over the budget but we just hope it is a one-off. The city always looks beautiful but this year people will notice the difference. People will see there isn't the same amount of floral display around Oxford and they should make their voice heard if they don't like it.

"We're hopeful Cowley might still be able to enter the urban category but we hope the council will realise its mistake and reinstate the funding for next year."

Bryan Keen, who has been a member of Oxford in Bloom for 20 years, said: "I think it's really sad that we can't enter this year. Oxford has a proud history in the competition.

The Labour councillor added: "I hope a Labour council will put more more into Oxford's flowers so we can enter next year."

A spokesman at Oxford City Council said: "We are extremely disappointed that we are unable to enter Oxford into Britain in Bloom this year.

"We are very keen to be involved next year and will ensure work is done on the budget to enable us to do this."

Despite the setback the Oxford in Bloom festival, which sees hundreds of homes, shops, offices, schools, colleges, factories, hotels, guest houses and pubs compete with their floral displays, will go ahead as normal.

The launch of the competition, sponsored by the Oxford Mail, takes place tomorrow at Templars Square, Cowley between 10.30am and 3pm.