BRAVING the heavy rain and blustery wind, gardeners turned out in force for Great Yarmouth and Gorleston In Bloom’s annual presentation night.

It was nearly standing room only in the Assembly Room at Yarmouth Town Hall on Friday night, as local people were called up to the stage to collect their special certificates – and trophies and shields – from mayor Michael Jeal.

In Bloom organiser Sue Hacon revealed numbers had been up and for the first time since the competition started and four judges had been needed to visit the entries.

However, Mrs Hacon was disappointed at the number of large commercial premises entries and added: “We must have more which could enter.”

The entrants for the local In Bloom competition feature in the Anglia in Bloom judging, and the only large commercial premises to enter were Sand Dune Cottages at Caister, Great Yarmouth Racecourse and Yarmouth seafront’s Merrivale Model Village – which took the main honours.

Mrs Hacon also wanted more schools in enter, maybe competing against each other for honours. Out of all the schools in the borough only four had entered the Best Young People’s Project category: Greenacre, Cliff Park First, Alderman Swindell and Cliff Park Middle.

Budding gardeners at Alderman Swindell Infant School were full of beans after winning the award for the first time. Children grow a range of fruit and vegetables and have created a small orchard, attractive borders and hanging baskets. Work is taking place planting a sensory garden and the compost comes from environmentally friendly vegetable and paper waste.

Delighted headteacher Alison Hopely said: “We were elated with the reward, it was lovely accolade and hopefully we have got some future gardeners at the school.

“The children grow onions, garlic, radishes, broad and runner beans, beetroot and tomatoes, which are all used in school.

“The award is bigger than the school and is about taking pride in where you live. It is very important for the children to have a sense of belonging to Great Yarmouth.

“We have entered In Bloom for a number of years and the judges were able to assess how we developed from a starting point.”

The gardening club is run by high level teaching assistant Denise Palmer and judges will present the award at a special school assembly.