A SPRIGHTLY great-granddad has proved he has the greenest fingers by scooping a top gardener's award.

Les Enock, aged 85, did not even know he had won the award until he turned up for the prize-giving ceremony by Elgar Housing Association.

"I didn't expect it really", said Mr Enock, who has three great grandchildren, two grandchildren and two daughters.

"It was all kept a secret until the night and I went with my wife Cissie, not knowing I'd won until I got there.

"I knew I'd won a prize but I didn't know what it was."

The competition was held for Elgar Housing Association tenants and Mr Enock impressed judges with his colourful display of flowers in his front garden and array of vegetables in his back garden.

"I am in pretty good shape and I enjoy gardening, it is very interesting," said the pensioner of Old Road, Kempsey.

"I am not a gardener but I used to work for farms ploughing and cultivating so the outdoors is in my blood."

He said the only other time he had won a gardening competition was 30 years ago when he won a cup for first prize from Malvern Council for his gardening.

Mr Enock was presented with a shield for best all-round gardener, a silver plate, a certificate in a frame and a £50 voucher.

This was the first time Elgar Housing Association had held the competition and there were 25 entries all together.

The competition was judged in August by the association and The Partnership Housing Group, a parent group.

"Judging was quite difficult," said Julia Daker, marketing officer at Elgar Housing Association.

"There were other winners but Mr Enock's was the overall winner.

"He had a vegetable patch at the back of his garden that would outshine a 22-year-old and a wonderful display of flowers at the front."