BLOOMING marvellous -- that's what judges thought of Harry Haworth's little patch of land when he picked up the prize for best allotment in Blackburn with Darwen.

The 30m by 30m plot at Broadfold allotments, in Benson Street, was voted the best individual allotment from 10 sites around the borough.

Allotments are judged on layout of the site, tidiness, variety and quality of produce, but Harry believes it was his pink, white and blue delphriniums which clinched the deal.

"I keep it tidy most of the time but on the day the delphriniums were out, so I think that might have had something to do with it," said Harry, who also picked up a £20 prize for best cultivated plot at Broadfold.

"I was quite surprised actually. I won it a few years back but then there was a condition that you had to grow mainly vegetables. Things seemed to have changed now, because I like to grow flowers."

Harry, of Rothesay Road, Shadsworth, is retired with two children and likes to visit his allotment most days.

Administration and customer services officer Jussi Murphy accompanied judge William Hargreaves, a Fellow of the National Vegetable Society, when they visited the allotments in July. He said: "Those delphriniums were really impressive. It was close between Harry and another plot at Revidge, but, in the end, Harry won on points."

Winners of the best cultivated plot on each site will receive their prizes at a special ceremony at Blackburn with Darwen Town Hall on September 27.

Best overall allotment went to Revidge, which will receive the Mayor's cup. Broadfold took second prize and the Tempest Cup and Feniscliffe take the third prize certificate.