HUNDREDS of giant crocuses have been planted in a town centre park to celebrate the end of polio in Africa.

The Rotary Club of Swindon Thamesdown has grown the purple plants in parts of Swindon for five years to raise awareness of global efforts to eradicate the disease.

The last four displays have been in junior schools. Now, with the support of South Swindon Parish Council, the club has prettied up the Faringdon Road entrance to GWR Park.

This year saw the end of polio cases in Africa and there are just a few in Afghanistan and Pakistan remaining.

Crocuses were chosen to mark this occasion because they are the same colour as the dye used to show who has been vaccinated against polio.

Rotary club community officer Ian Robinson organised the planting. He said: "This has been a 20-year campaign for us. We have 4,000 bulbs and

thought it would be nice to put them at the gates where people can see them while coming in, they should be grown by February."