COLCHESTER'S infamous eco-warrior the Human Shrub could be set to make a come back after Colchester Council revealed plans to remove shrub beds.

Colchester won a gold medal at the Anglia in Bloom awards for the third year running.

However, Pam Schomberg, chairman of the Colchester in Bloom group, criticised the council for failing to keep grass verges cut.

Now Annie Feltham, the council's portfolio holder for community and leisure services, has revealed roadside shrub beds are set to be removed and replaced with grass to save money.

The decision to rip out rose beds in 2009 to save money prompted a vociferous response, bringing Colchester national attention and leading to the creation of the self-made eco campaigner the Human Shrub.

Colchester Council manages and maintains grass and shrub beds on highway verges on behalf of Essex County Council.

Ms Feltham said the decision to reduce roadside maintenance was because money was tight.

The council is looking to save a total of £100,000 from the grounds maintenance budget this year and a further £100,000 for the next financial year 2015/16.

Ms Feltham said: "Over the next few months work to reduce our budget on roadside border maintenance will take place across the borough so a number of roadside shrub beds will be removed and replaced with grass.

"These areas will continue to be professionally maintained, albeit at a much lower cost to the council."

The decision was criticised by Will Quince, the leader of the opposition Conservative group.

He said: "This is unbelievable. It will lead to the return of the Human Shrub.

"Planting wildflowers will be ghastly. That basically means leaving it to do its thing which will be awful.

"I understand the need to save money but this is certainly is not value for money."