More than 100,000 daffodils planted in the town as part of a £2m gift from a Canadian banker in his will are finally beginning to bloom.

The valley of bulbs were planted after a dying wish by Keith Owen - who planned to retire in Sidmouth in Devon.

He was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2007 and decided to leave his life savings of £2.3m to a local voluntary conservation society.

He contacted the Sid Vale Association (SVA) and told them he wished for his money to be used to "support local projects, which made use of voluntary labour, and in particular to sustain the ambience and way of life, recognised in Sidmouth and its surroundings".

Now the 153,000 bulbs planted across the town are finally beginning to bloom.

Ed Harrison of the Sidmouth Civic Society said: "Every year it brings back happy memories of this man who did this amazing thing for the town."

Snowdrops, daffodils and crocus bulbs were among the 153,000 flowers worth £166,000 planted at over 50 sites.

The daffodils were planted on Peak Hill in Sidmouth.

Mr Owen died on December 3, 2007 in the Victoria Hospital, Sidmouth.

The millionaire was born in 1938 in nearby Totnes, and went to school at Montpelier Preparatory School, Paignton.

In 1976, after 20 years of RAF service, he retired with the rank of Squadron Leader and set up home in Ottawa, Canada.

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