JUDGES for the national Britain in Bloom awards with in Blackburn this weekend for a sun-soaked tour of its floral and plant displays.

The Royal Horticultural Society team were in town as it looked to win a UK-wide award after taking the North-West regional gold medal earlier this year for the fifth time running.

In February it was confirmed that Blackburn would again be a national finalist and this weekend the national judging panel was inspecting its credentials for a prize in the town centre category.

They were accompanied by Blackburn with Darwen Council's gardening team and representatives of Blackburn Business Improvement District (BID), The Mall and the Cathedral.

The judges were given a grand tour of its displays, environmental improvements and community projects.

Stops included visiting the well-established planting in the Cathedral Gardens and King William Street: the planters and barrier baskets around the town, visiting community planters on Exchange Street, Victoria Gardens and Higher Church Street; and seeing new landscaping improvements such as Blakey Moor and Jubilee Square.

Cllr Phil Riley, leader of Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, said: "This is absolutely fantastic news and testament to the dedication and hard work that goes in to making Blackburn town centre look its very best each year.

"Our gardeners are well-known around the town for working exceptionally hard all year round and truly going above and beyond to keep our floral displays looking their very best during the summer months. It’s a real team effort too with support from Blackburn BID, The Mall, our partners and volunteers.

"For Blackburn to be recognised at a national level is just brilliant and very much deserved."

Britain in Bloom winners will be announced at a special ceremony in London in October.