Delight of Shropshire's England in Bloom winners

[gallery] Green-fingered gardening enthusiasts in Shropshire say they are blooming delighted to have won a selection of top prizes in this year's Heart of England in Bloom Awards.

Towns and villages throughout the county received awards in this year's competition.

Representatives from the county were told of their success at a presentation ceremony yesterday in Tamworth.

Norton-in-Hales, near Market Drayton, was presented with a gold award and declared category winner in the village section of the competition.

The village will now be entered into the annual Royal Horticultural Society Britain in Bloom competition in a bid to be crowned one of the best villages in the country, a title it won in 2008 and 2010.

Malcolm McDonald, secretary of the Norton-in-Hales Britain in Bloom Group, said: "We have won a gold medal and the village category in the competition so we are absolutely thrilled. The competition covers the bulk of the Midlands so we are the best village in the Midlands.

"It really is a fantastic achievement. We have worked very hard for many years to get to this level."

Mr McDonald added: "Everyone pulls together. Our success really is down to the community spirit – there is so much going on here but we all work together."

Bridgnorth was voted the top town at this year's Heart of England in Bloom contest and will now also enter the nationwide competition. The town proved such a hit with judges it was voted top of the town category against six other entrants.

Claverley was also celebrating during yesterday's grand ceremony after scooping gold, although it missed out as over all winners in the village category.

Anne Wilson, town clerk of Bridgnorth Town Council, said: "The council is delighted to have been put through to the 2014 Britain in Bloom awards.

"We could not have done it without the support of the community, volunteers and Shropshire Council."

Ms Wilson said: "The council has received telephone calls and letters about how lovely the flowers were and what a difference they make to the visitors."

Entrants in the contest had been patiently waiting since July for the results following visits to their respective towns and villages by competition judges – and Bridgnorth was not without its difficulties during that time. Shropshire Council ordered flowers on the Low Town bridge been removed for health and safety reasons during the summer. Town council members insisted the containers were entirely safe and fixed in a similar way to those on bridges in other Shropshire towns including Shrewsbury.

The councils agreed to let the flowers return temporarily but discussions continue to be held between the two councils.

Shrewsbury won a gold award and was crowned joint category winner.

Judges visited the town on July 23 when hundreds of floral hanging baskets, planters and containers throughout the town were judged against exacting criteria.

Horticultural bosses say they are now keeping their fingers crossed that Shrewsbury will be crowned best in Britain when the results of this year's Britain in Bloom competition are announced on October 12.

Jackie Brennand, Shrewsbury in Bloom Chairman said: "This is once again a fantastic result for Shrewsbury and a testament to all the hard work that goes in to making our town blooming gorgeous all year round."

Oswestry won a gold award in the town category. Mayor Chris Schofield said: "This is excellent news for Oswestry.

"It recognises a lot of hard work by Oswestry In Bloom, Shropshire Council and the town council and most importantly the many residents and businesses that provided such wonderful displays."

In the south of the county Ludlow was celebrating winning a gold award in the town category.

Rod Parr, chairman of Claverley in Bloom, said: "Last year the judges couldn't even complete their tour because of the terrible weather but the village looks superb at the moment, so we took some confidence from that."