GREEN-FINGERED gardeners and businesses were rewarded for their hard work and patience - and for making the areas where live more colourful - at the annual Great Yarmouth and Gorleston In Bloom awards.

GREEN-FINGERED gardeners and businesses were rewarded for their hard work and patience - and for making the areas where live more colourful - at the annual Great Yarmouth and Gorleston In Bloom awards.

More than 200 people attended the evening on Friday at the Marina Centre on the seafront.

In Bloom organiser Sue Hacon said there had been several new entries this year, especially in the Community and Street categories, with more people becoming interested in helping make the areas where they live more colourful and welcoming.

Mrs Hacon added: “Judging was very difficult this year because of the high standard and whilst there are overall winners of our categories everyone taking part is a winner.”

A delighted Mrs Jean Neve, vice chairman of Winterton In Bloom, went up to collect the award for the Best Village.

Mrs Neve, who described the 35-strong village In Bloom team as “a happy little band of pilgrims”, said: “We are really privileged to have a higgledy-piggledy village with a fantastic village green and lots of nooks and crannies.”

The group hold fund-raising events throughout the year to buy the equipment, barrels and plants they need to bring the village to colourful life from the spring onwards - and will shortly be starting the winter planting.

Members of the team have their own patches on which to bring to bloom, including the schoolchildren who plant on the village green and three members of Mencap, who look after the bus stop, keeping it neat and tidy and wonderfully welcome for visitors.

The 901 Troop Marine Cadets are also willing helpers when the going gets tough, and this year helped tidy up Duffle's Pond and dug up overpowering reeds.

And it is this community spirit which Mrs Neve said had contributed towards bringing many of the villagers together.

Winners

Small garden: Mrs Denise Metcalfe of Blackfriars Road, Great Yarmouth

Large garden: Haydn Thirtle of Rollesby

Community housing: Mr and Mrs Dyble of St Mary's Close, Fleggburgh

Garden with water feature: Mr and Mrs Marlow of Whimbrel Way, Bradwell

Categories overall winner: Mr and Mrs Dyble

Best hanging basket: Mrs Stannard of Cherry Road, Gorleston

Best street: Portland Court, Southtown Road, Great Yarmouth

Best street, commercial: Trafalgar Road, Great Yarmouth

Best lawn: Mr Lown of Martham

Community project: Cherry Road, Gorleston

Best village: Winterton on Sea

Best pub or restaurant: Sara's Tearooms, Beach Gardens, South Beach Parade, Great Yarmouth

Best guesthouse/hotel, large: The Blenheim, Apsley Road, Great Yarmouth

Best guesthouse/hotel, small: Merivon Guest House, Trafalgar Road, Great Yarmouth

Best commercial premises, large: Great Yarmouth Racecourse

Best commercial premises, small: Filby Post Office

Best holiday centre: Green Farm Caravan Park, Scratby

Best young people's project: North Denes Middle School (silver gilt), Alderman Swindell First (silver gilt), Homefield VC First (silver ), Cliuff Park First (silver), 2nd Great Yarmouth Brownies (silver), 1st Rainbow Guides (silver), 22nd Great Yarmouth Guide (silver), Sea of Trees project (bronze).

Champion of Champions: Mr and Mrs V Beevor of Lowestoft Road, Gorleston

Special Award: Filby

ends