Oakham BP petrol station has admitted that contractors it employed were responsible for killing a large number of plants on an Oakham In Bloom-maintained flowerbed.

Oakham In Bloom members discovered the aftermath of what it believed was the result of herbicide spraying earlier this month and took to Twitter to share photos of the 'devastating' results.

The volunteer organisation launched an investigation into how the flowerbed - at the top of Lands End Way at the bypass roundabout junction - had fallen foul of the spraying.

And now, two weeks later, the volunteer organisation has finally discovered who is responsible.

Gardening co-ordinator Craig Howat told Oakham Nub News: "The BP garage on the roundabout has accepted responsibility for the damage.

"They accepted they had insufficient control over contractors spraying their land and that these contractors weren't given maps clearly defining what areas to spray.

"They accept it was most likely their contractors and have agreed to compensate us for the plants and pay for watering costs."

A spokesperson from BP's head office confirmed yesterday (Fri) the petrol station was taking responsibility for the rogue spraying and would be compensating Oakham In Bloom.

Floral victims of the spraying included poppies, love-in-a-mist, sea holly, geraniums, alliums, achillea, helenium, hebe and an impressive yellow flowered verbascum. Many of the plants had been grown from seed.