THE Dartmouth in Bloom committee – which has been tearing itself apart in a bitter flower power battle over how the 34-year-old organisation is run – was due to meet again this week.

So far the internal row has culminated in an email criticising mayor Paul Allen's chairmanship of the committee which runs the town's annual bloom competition.

In it, Mr Allen is accused of:

l 'Favouring' individual committee members.

l Failing to stop alleged 'bullying' among committee members.

l Being 'undemocratic'.

l Bringing 'discredit' to the role of chairman and to the Dartmouth in Bloom organisation itself.

The email from bloom committee vice chairman Stevie Rogers – sent to committee members – also criticised the mayor's oversight of the group's funding arrangements, alleging an 'undisclosed' Dartmouth in Bloom bank account and another 'undisclosed publicly donated cache' of funds.

The bloom committee was due to meet again on Wednesday night to elect new officers after almost all the bloom committee officers resigned at a crisis meeting held at the Royal Castle Hotel.

At the same time, the committee was also due to consider a new constitution for the group.

Meanwhile, the town council has taken custody of the bloom team accounts and bank statements until a new team of officers are put in place. Town clerk Chris Horan said the council had thought that was 'appropriate' as the organisation's 'largest sponsor'.

A fortnight ago, Mr Allen quit as chairman of the Dartmouth in Bloom team as its committee began to split into factions.

The split – which has seen the bloom committee divided into two factions – deepened as Dartmouth district councillor and regatta chairman Hilary Bastone was invited to chair the crisis meeting as an independent voice.

But before the meeting even started, many of the 17-strong committee voted for Ms Rogers to take the chair instead.

The current row could not have come at a worse time as the town prepares to represent the whole of the South West in the Britain in Bloom national finals this year.

It is only the second time that Dartmouth has made it through to the national competition in the 34 years it has been entering – although it has won something in the regional awards virtually every year.

At the acrimonious crisis meeting, treasurer Judy Holt, membership secretary Jean Bannister, marketing officer Sue Thomson and secretary Jane Joy – who has been a driving force behind the bloom committee since it was formed – all quit their posts.

After the meeting, Mr Allen refused to comment on either the meeting or Ms Rogers' email, saying: 'I did not see it and I have no comment at all.'

Neither Jane Joy nor Sue Thomson wanted to comment.

Ms Rogers said: 'I have been uncomfortable about the way Dartmouth in Bloom has been run recently and things had to be said.

'There has been a blurring of boundaries and we are a committee that deals with public funds. It needed to be said.

'An organisation that deals with public money has to be accountable. I hope that Dartmouth in Bloom can move on even if it is maybe in a different format.'

Last year Dartmouth in Bloom was handed a grant of £5,000 by the town council and the group is in line for another £3,000 in council cash this year.