Volunteers from the Rotary Club of Ellesmere spent a Sunday morningof Sunday, October 28 planting crocus bulbs on the roundabout and verges opposite the entrance to Lakelands School.

Their contribution constituted just 5,000 bulbs from the millions that have been planted this autumn by 1.5 million Rotarians worldwide to mark the fifth annual World Polio Day.

Each Rotary Club bought its share of bulbs, with the proceeds contributed to the continuing Rotary International support for the End Polio Now campaign that finances a global immunisation programme.

Rotary began its efforts in the mid-1980s and success is now very close, with only 17 cases reported this year so far, all in Afghanistan. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in Seattle co-hosted the World Polio Day event on October 24.

The foundation match-funds the Rotary effort by a factor of two. Peter Broadbent, Ellesmere Rotary fundraising co-ordinator, said: “It is the hope of all of us that there will be nil cases in 2019, with the declaration of worldwide eradication of polio after a further three clear years.”

Volunteers from the Ellesmere Club will be out again on Friday, November 30, when they will be marshalling the Ellesmere Winter Festival.

The Rotary Tree of Light Appeal will be launched on the same evening, with the aim of raising funds for other good causes.