Yobs attacked the colourful shop front at George-A-Green Fisheries, Lupset, about a month ago, ruining the shop's bid to win the contest.

Shop owners Damien Schofield and Amanda Townsdale, who had worked for months on the display, were distraught to find their purple trailing surfinias strewn across the yard.

They attempted to replant the damaged flowers, which were grown in a friend's allotment, but almost all of them had been destroyed.

But, as reported in the Express, the couple refused to be beaten and immediately set about repairing the damage with flowers from the garden of their Aysgarth Drive home.

And a huge show of support has also been made by people from across the city, who have egged on the couple's efforts to enter the contest on time.

Mr Schofield, 34, said: "It has been tremendous. The number of people who have come into the shop and said how disgusted they were at what happened has been amazing.

"We have had so many flowers donated from people, we had to buy new flower boxes for the front of the shop. One couple even came all the way from Outwood to bring us some flowers."

The shop, situated on George-A-Green Road, was named Wakefield's Best Blooming Business in last year's competition.

Mr Schofield said: "If we win this year that would be great, but in a way we are not really bothered because this is something nice for people to look at and I think what happened has really brought the community together."