A PURPLE carpet of beautiful blooms will sweep through Banbury next year thanks to the efforts of hundreds of locals aiming to beat polio for good.

More than 40,000 crocuses are being planted in the town, co-ordinated by the Banbury Rotary Club, to support Rotary's national 'Purple4Polio' fundraising initiative.

Over the next 12 months the club will organise a host of events to raise funds and awareness of the deadly disease, which is now on the brink of eradication.

Local president Owen Kyffin said: "As a club we have worked tirelessly to ensure that polio is eradicated.

"With fewer cases being reported we believe we can end this disease forever. This has been the goal for 30 years and we're determined to make this a success."

For the last three decades, Rotary has spearheaded efforts to raise cash for immunisation against polio, a virus often affecting children that can cause paralysis, deformities or death.

This year Cherwell District Council, Banbury Town Council and local accountants firm Whitley Stimpson have funded the purchase of huge quantities of crocus corms - more than double the number planted in Banbury in previous years - that will be sown in the coming weeks. Eight local primaries are also growing 12,000 flowers of their own.

On Saturday, October 22 this year the club will host a market stall to mark World Polio Day, while ringers at the St Mary's Church bell tower ring out a quarter peal.

The following month hundreds of children from 28 primary schools will sing to support the international cause at St Mary's Church.

Then in March next year, just as the flowers begin to bloom, youngsters from the eight crocus-planting schools will sing their hearts out at two 'Crocus Concerts'..

In the first few years of the Banbury Crocus Concerts Project, sufficient money was raised to immunise almost 100,000 children.

Rotary International president Eve Conway said: "The world stands on the brink of an historic milestone and we must focus our efforts on the final push.

"Let's join together to make history and end polio now and forever."