The Rotary Club of North Berwick’s planting of crocus bulbs this month at a local country park is the culmination of 15 years of bulb-planting around the town.

The club members added to the bulbs they planted last year on the southern approach to North Berwick, on land south of the Walker and CALA Homes developments at Mains Farm.

The volunteers have spent the last few years planting purple crocuses not only to create a bright and welcoming display in the town each spring but also to celebrate the almost total eradication of polio in the world, spearheaded through a programme run by Rotary and funded through Rotary and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Polio still exists in only two countries in the world: Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The work in eradicating polio still goes on even in these countries, where conflict exists.

The colour purple is significant because when the disease was first prevalent, those immunised with anti-polio drops were identified by having their small finger dipped in a purple dye.

President Gordon Symon said: “We are delighted to herald the coming of spring with the beautiful displays but next year remember the significance of the purple colour on show.”