Voting scandal erupts in Henley as hanging baskets get a zero rating

As electoral rows go, it may not rank with the "hanging chads" of Florida but to the residents of Henley-on-Thames it is an issue of similar seriousness – where are the votes for their hanging baskets?

Gardeners in the well-heeled Oxfordshire town were yesterday barely able to conceal their disbelief after they were denied victory in the regional section of the Britain in Bloom competition.

Such was the depth of feeling at their zero-rating in the coveted hanging basket section that Henley's former mayor has demanded a recount of the judges' votes. The town, which won the area title last year, was beaten in this year's Chiltern Vale finals by Kidlington, north of Oxford, which scored six points for its suspended floral displays.

Tony Lane, a councillor and director of Henley's bid, said: "There was an awful lot of hard work involved in the floral displays, so to receive zero points was a real kick in the teeth.This is not sour grapes. But if [Kidlington] have been awarded points for their hanging baskets, which I think we excelled in, I want a recount."

Mr Lane said he would examine Kidlington's efforts, pointing out that in recent years the Thames-side town had scored eight points.

The row led to a wounded response from the victors, who said they did not start with the picture-postcard advantages of rivals such as Henley or Marlow in Buckinghamshire.

Carole Pack, who sits on Kidlington's parish council, said: "We feel very proud to have won. We are not a pretty town like Henley or Marlow. It's easier for a pretty town but we have a long road scything through the village which is difficult to work with."

None of which mollified Mr Lane, who said the Britain in Bloom judges had not been "up to the usual standard".

Caroline O'Callaghan, the national co-ordinator of the contest, said it seemed that the judges had "misconstrued" the award rules but said all towns in the Chiltern Vale area had received the same treatment.