Banker leaves £2.3m to seaside town

A dying man left £2.3 million to the seaside town of Sidmouth, asking for it to be kept looking "beautiful" and for one million flowers to be planted.

When wealthy banker Keith Owen learned he was suffering from terminal cancer, he put the Sid Vale Association in his will.

The 69-year-old suggested the town plant one million bulbs with the money, Western Morning News reports.

Sid Vale Association honoured Owen's request last year after he died, planting thousands of daffodils, snowdrops and crocuses.

According to the Daily Mail, the blooms have helped Sidmouth claim the prestigious Silver Gilt at the 50th Britain in Bloom awards.

Judges praised the tourist resort for planting more than 150,000 flowers in Owen's name.

Lindsay Southcombe at Truro in Bloom said: "We are delighted to receive this award, which is the culmination of many months of hard work by the Parks Department, the Truro in Bloom Committee and the community groups."