Guerrilla gardener says it with flowers

A guerrilla gardener is on the loose in London - transforming ugly potholes into beautiful but tiny gardens.

Steve Wheen, 33, travels around London planting spring blooms such as cyclamen, narcissus and polyanthus into holes in the road.

Mr Wheen, a keen cyclist, began his campaign out of frustration at the lack of repairs to roads damaged by the harsh winter.

"I find potholes a constant menace and I've almost come off my bike several times. I'm also a mad-keen gardener and wanted to make a point," he said.

The art student, who has no garden of his own at his Shoreditch flat, added: "I choose smaller roads and pavements for safety.

"I use plants with colourful flowers in the hope motorists will see them and avoid them. My first effort lasted two hours but one lasted three weeks.

"If it draws a cyclist's attention to a pothole and puts a smile on their face it's good enough for me."

His efforts so far have proven to be very popular with his website - www.thepotholegardener.com - receiving 25,000 hits in its first month alone.