Plans to axe hanging baskets throughout Croydon as part of a £100,000 council money-saving measure have been nullified after businesses stepped into the breach.

Croydon’s Business Improvement District(BID) plans to install more than 160 of the baskets over the summer to replace those cut by the council as it backs out of its successful Croydon in Bloom campaign.

The group will also be entering the borough into London in Bloom, and will continue to maintain planters and flowerbeds in the town centre, near East Croydon station and around Reeves Corner.

The company’s chief executive, Ros Morgan, said: “Croydon BID has improving the town centre at the heart of everything it does, and we understand the value to its local businesses of making sure its environment remains bright, clean and attractive for residents, visitors and employees.”

Croydon beat Edinburgh to become Britain in Bloom winners in 2009, and was named London in Bloom Champion of Champions in 2010.

A council spokesman said it had backed out of the events because of the pressure on public finances, and added Croydon had not been invited to enter Britain in Bloom.