FLOWERBEDS and roundabouts all over North Oxfordshire will take on a purple hue next spring after 60,000 crocus bulbs were bought in support of a charity campaign.

The bulbs were purchased by Cherwell District Council supporting Rotary Clubs in Kidlington, Bicester and Banbury in a national drive to eradicate polio.

The 30-year campaign is nearing its conclusion and over the decades the crocus has become the symbol for the Club's efforts.

Corms were planted across all three areas and will bloom coinciding with a series of charity concerts raising money for the Purple4Polio campaign.

The colour purple was chosen to represent the purple stamp put onto children's fingers across the globe to signify they have been vaccinated.

Polio is an infectious disease that affects the nerves in the spine and can cause paralysis or death.

Councillor George Reynolds, Cherwell's deputy leader, said: "We are proud to be supporting local Rotary clubs by taking part in the Purple4Polio initiative.

"Over the last few weeks tens of thousands of corms have been planted across Banbury, Bicester and Kidlington which will help to raise awareness of this campaign when they come into bloom next year.

"The money will be spent on vital vaccinations and treatment to help make polio a thing of the past.

"By supporting this project we have not only helped to brighten flower borders across Cherwell, but more importantly we have helped to brighten and save the lives of people across the world who are still at risk of this awful disease."