Piccadilly Gardens has been returfed – and members of the public are VERY unimpressed with the outcome.

The surface has been laid with dry, brown grass, which looks like it’s seen better days.

Council bosses have put their hands up and admitted the work doesn’t ‘look great’, but said they are going to sort it.

The grass was left ‘extremely parched’ due to a combination of the sprinkler system failing and the hot weather over the weekend, they said.

Simon Gunton tweeted photos of the grass to the M.E.N, slamming its shoddy appearance. He claimed the grass also gave off a horrible stench.

(Image: Manchester Evening News)

He tweeted: “Absolutely shocking returfing job on Piccadilly Gardens by @ManCityCouncil massive gaps in the joins, dead grass which actually smells like it’s rotting it’s so bad @MENnewsdesk.”

Paul Shaw also tweeted a picture of the large carpet of brown grass at 4pm, saying: “Re-turfing Manchester Piccadilly Gardens in time for summer.

“Nailed It. #manchester #nailedit #welldone @PiccadillyMCR @ManCityCouncil.”

And Katie Louise Senior retweeted a picture of the gardens in the 1950s – when the area was abundant with pretty flower beds – highlighting the stark contrast to its current state.

She tweeted saying: “It’s kinda heartbreaking to see how beautiful it used to be compared to now.”

(Image: Manchester Evening News)

Councillor Pat Karney, city centre spokesman, said: “We know this doesn’t look great and we’re going to sort it out.

“Piccadilly Gardens was re-turfed on Friday. Unfortunately a combination of the Gardens’ sprinkler system failing due to vandalism and the unusually hot weather over the Bank Holiday weekend has left the grass extremely parched. While this could still naturally recover, we may well need to returf sections to ensure it looks as it should. We are determined to sort this out as soon as we can.”

Last summer, plans were submitted to the council to radically overhaul Piccadilly Gardens as part of a £2m project by firm Legal and General.

They proposed tearing down the wall, which the company own, and replacing it with a new pavilion.

The designs also feature new lighting and trees, as well as an extended grassy area.