ALLOTMENT holders in Oxford have received a double boost as the city council tries to encourage more people to grow their own fruit and veg.

Four allotment associations have received rebates after hundreds of plot holders had their crops devastated by last summer's floods, while the council is considering investing £40,000 to improve the city's 36 allotment sites.

The Osney, St Thomas and New Botley Allotment Association, in West Oxford, had dug its heels in and refused to pay its annual £1,097 rent last September, after 200 plot holders lost their crops in last July's floods.

The association had demanded a full rebate but is now prepared to accept a compromise after the council's new Labour administration agreed to offer a 50 per cent reduction.

The total cost of the rebates is £1,419, with £559 going to New Botley; £80 to Spragglesea Mead; £440 to Cripley Meadow; and £349 to Cowmead.

The West Oxford growers asked for the rebate to replace £800 of equipment that was damaged last July.

The council's previous Liberal Democrat administration had twice turned down the rebate request, while it reviewed the issue.

Derek Barnes, 66, who has been an allotment holder since 1970, said: "We're very pleased about this. It's been a nightmare for plot-holders over the past year and they have become so disheartened after putting in so much time and effort and then continually losing their crops.

"This is a well-received and well-timed boost. We really need to recoup some money to replace lost equipment."

Mr Barnes, who also runs the allotment association's shop, said this year's crops of potatoes, spring cabbage, peas and cauliflower were ruined by heavy rain two weeks ago.

Adrian Gardiner, 53, from Southwold, Bicester, said: "This is good news. I only started on the allotment in January but it's flooded twice since then."

The council's executive member for leisure and sport, Bob Timbs, said: "We have to be fair to these allotment holders, because they lost a lot of crops at the peak time of their year.

"Everybody's known about this since last July, so there's no point in pussy-footing around, wondering whether to give them a rebate.

"We want to see more people making use of allotments in Oxford. They're a healthy activity."

The council has spent £449,000 on allotments over the past three years but council leader Bob Price said there could be £40,000 more for them in next year's budget.

He said: "We're looking to improve the appearance of some of the allotments and to improve fencing and security around them. Allotments are becoming increasingly popular and we need to do what we can to support them."