THOUSANDS of bulbs have been planted in North Berwick to highlight a project to end polio.

Members of North Berwick Rotary Club planted 8,000 crocus bulbs in two parts on the south approach to the town.

They worked in pairs at different times, observing coronavirus protocols, so it took some time to get the job done.

Planting the bulbs, which it is hoped will bloom in the spring, aims to highlight Rotary’s work in attempting to eradicate polio for the past 35-plus years.

North Berwick Rotary Club says that it is “crucial” to eradicate polio from the last two countries where it remains endemic and to keep other countries polio free.

As part of raising additional awareness of this ongoing campaign, a dozen local High Street shops are decorating their windows this week, from Monday until Saturday.

There is a small competition running and the best window display will be announced after Saturday.

A spokesman for North Berwick Rotary Club said: “As a founding partner of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, Rotary has helped to reduce polio cases by more than 99.9 per cent.

“If all eradication efforts stopped today, within 10 years polio could paralyse as many as 200,000 children each year. That is why it is critical to keep the focus.”

For more information on North Berwick Rotary Club, visit its Facebook page or northberwickrotaryclub.org