Gallery: Winners of Royston in Bloom announced

HIGH quality horticulture has been rewarded after the winners of this year s Royston in Bloom contest were announced. Judges were wowed by over 43 outstanding gardens spread across the eight categories. There was a double celebration in St Mary s Park whe

HIGH quality horticulture has been rewarded after the winners of this year's Royston in Bloom contest were announced.

Judges were wowed by over 43 outstanding gardens spread across the eight categories.

There was a double celebration in St Mary's Park where neighbours Josephine Cook and Pauline Turner both got first prizes.

Mrs Cook was successful in the Best Front Container Garden category, while Mrs Turner was the winner of the Street and Community section for her work with the St Mary's Park bungalows.

Green fingered youngsters at Tannery Drift School also got two awards. Their innovative planters made from recycled tin cans were named as the inaugural winners of the Young Persons Project (Recycled Material), while the school grounds were identified as the outstanding entry in the general Young Person's category.

Martin Dawson was victorious in the Best Front Garden section. The Briary Lane resident said: "I haven't changed too much this year, just gone for a good selection of colour which I think the judges liked."

Another previous winner, Mary Hails, held onto her title in the Best Front Garden (easy maintenance) category.

The Best Allotment prize was hotly contested, but last year's winner, Tony Churchman, was once again victorious, ahead of 13 other candidates.

The North Star pub, in Old North Road, picked up the Best Pub and Commercial Premises category.