We received a circular from Brighton and Hove City Council asking businesses to help celebrate the Queen's Golden Jubilee and to contribute to Brighton in Bloom.

The cost of two hanging baskets and brackets was £192. For this price, we thought we would surely get a fantastic display of summer flowers that would also help us celebrate ten years in business.

The baskets did not arrive in time for the jubilee celebrations. They arrived on June 20 after we made phone calls to chase them up. We were told our business had been overlooked. When the baskets arrived, we had never seen such a shambolic display. Not one petunia, no lobelia. Instead, a few scrawny geraniums and some yellow things that can only be described as some sort of bushy weed.

Having visited the council nurseries at Stanmer, we are surprised and disgusted with the council's attempt at brightening up the city. If city businesses are willing to contribute hard-earned money to help create aesthetic and pleasant shopping areas, surely the council can come up with better displays at this cost?

The council has offered us £100 back but this will probably take a long time because of bureaucracy.

I suggest, in future, if businesses in the city want to bloom, buy from your local garden centre at probably less than half the cost.

-P Kavanagh, FishFace Hair and Beauty, Hove