A PENSIONER who has brought a splash of colour to his neighbourhood for more than a decade will meet the Queen next month, thanks to the Daily Echo.

For 15 years Peter Andow, 70, has been carefully planting flowers on grass verges outside his home in Cherwell Crescent, Southampton.

He started his gardening mission of kindness to please his wife Elsa, just before she died 13 years ago.

But in June, the former postie's work hit the headlines when Southampton City Council workers sprayed weedkiller on the carefully tended bulbs - and demanded a £110 fee for Peter to continue planting.

The story sparked outrage. An 87-year-old woman even offered to stump up the cash herself. A day later council bosses backed down and said Peter could carry on.

Now his dedication has caught the eye of Buckingham Palace bosses, who have invited Peter to a reception with the Queen after the Daily Echo secretly nominated him.

Peter, who also has an allotment in Millbrook, said: "I couldn't believe it when I got the letter saying I'd been invited. The likes of me don't normally do anything like this.

"I thought it can't have been from when I was in the Royal Navy, then one of my friends suggested it might be for looking after the grass verges."

The reception's purpose, to recognise "people who have made a significant recent contribution to national life," even baffled the humble pensioner, who said: "How can what I do be about national life?"

He and friend Joan Roberts, 50, will travel

to London on December 7 for the Christmas do.

Peter added: "I'm a bit nervous because I've never been to anything like this before. Joan is getting her hair done especially and I've got a suit I bought two years ago that I'll wear.

"I never thought planting my flowers would lead to meeting the Queen - so thanks to the Daily Echo for nominating me."