Weeds were allowed overrun flower beds right next to a plot transformed by people power for centenary of the Great War.

Good Samaritans spruced up a flower bed alongside the war memorial in Ewell Village a month before the 100th anniversary of the war’s outbreak in August.

But Epsom Council is responsible for looking after neighbouring flower beds and these were spotted in a neglected state last week.

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The community's flower bed yesterday

Nick Kelly, a former member of local air cadet squadron 323, said he had read about the "good-hearted" community effort in the Epsom Guardian in July.

But Mr Kelly said it would have been even more of a tribute if the council maintained its flower beds, instead of just applauding the volunteers.

He said: "I was mortified to walk past the flower beds only a couple of days ago to find them overgrown with weeds and uncared for.

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The council flower bed in the middle yesterday

"The council appears to have been blowing hot air about ‘working together’. I assume they’re expecting another local fairy godmother to come and wave her magic wand to harvest another beautiful flower bed.

"Surely it would only take the councils gardeners one hour every couple of weeks just to pop by and give them a turnover?"

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The other council flower bed yesterday 

When the council was contacted to find out what was going on a spokesman said one of the council flower beds had now been replanted with roses, and the other, which contains "sustainable plants", has apparently been weeded.

The anonymous good Samaritan, who organised the clean-up in August and tends the community flower bed said: "It was indeed full of weeds the other day, but...it has been weeded now and looks quite good. You can reassure your reader that all is fairly well flower-bed-wise in Ewell."

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Photo sent to this newspaper on September 3

Councillor Clive Woodbridge, who represents Ewell, said: "We did plant shrubs shortly after the volunteers did theirs. But if they have become overgrown clearly that is something we need to attend to.

"In that particular case we did our bit to tidy up the war memorial and the volunteers kindly planted up the bed close to the war memorial."

Charlotte Moggridge, who has previously written to this newspaper over the sorry state of the flower beds, said: "The situation is totally frustrating.

"Ewell Village has the potential to be such a beautiful place and is totally neglected."

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Another photo sent in on September 3