TOWN residents have once again stunned judges in the annual Redditch Garden Competition with their dazzling dahlias, wonderful water features and heavenly herbaceous borders.

On September 21, awards were presented to the winners of the best garden, best allotment and best individual plots in the competition, organised by Redditch Council and sponsored by Badger Nurseries.

A spokesman said: "There was an excellent attendance this year when awards were given out by the town's deputy mayor, Councillor Mike Chalk, who stepped in on behalf of mayor Diane Thomas, who was ill."

Judge Chris Harten said: "We were pleased to have so many entries in both the garden and allotment categories.

"We had a difficult time choosing the winners this year as there were many beautiful gardens and immaculate allotments.

"The overall standard was very high and some cases there was just half a point difference in scores between a winning entry and one which just missed out on a prize."

Best Allotment Site

1st - Winyates Green

2nd - Webheath

3rd - Astwood Bank

Best Individual Allotment Plot

1st - Mr B Fisher, Plot 26, Astwood Bank

2nd - Mr S Ross, Plot 12, Dolphin Road

3rd - Mr D Dyson, Plot 27, Astwood Bank

Redditch Best Garden Competition:

a) Special Categories:

Best Recent Makeover - Miss M Moore, Brockhill

b) Sheltered, Residential or Warden-controlled Homes Communal Gardens Awards:

1st - Wood Court, Headless Cross

2nd - Arthur Jobson House, Abbeydale

3rd - The Saltways Cheshire Home, Webheath

c) Area Winners:

Area 1 - Mrs K Horton, Webheath

Area 2 - Mr P Stephens, Hunt End

Area 3 - Mr and Mrs R Poolton, Headless Cross

Area 4 - Mr and Mrs C Richards, Batchley

d) Overall Winners:

1st - Mr P Stephens, Hunt End

2nd - Mr and Mrs R Poolton, Headless Cross

3rd - Mrs K Horton, Webheath