BLOOMING 'eck! Gardeners have brought a riot of colour to the borough in this year's Bury in Bloom competition.

The Bury Council-run tourney encourages the local community to compete for fun with rivals of a similar status.

The competition is sponsored by the Bury Times Group and Summerseat Garden Centre.

The winners were presented with their prizes at the Elizabethan Suite at Bury Town Hall by the Mayor of Bury, Councillor Barry Briggs.

Mr Mike Bent, the council's parks and open spaces officer, said: "The whole competition has gone well, with the standards being very high this year. It's amazing what people can create in their own gardens and the level of creativity they use."

The winners are:

Household front garden: first, Irene and Edward Kelly, Settle Close, Lowercroft; second, Mr Shaun Kelly of Brandlesholme; third, Mr P.C. Norris, Greenmount Drive, Greenmount.

Household back garden: first, Mr Stuart Cain, Bankhouse Road, Brandlesholme; second, Mrs Margaret Orr, Melton Drive, Hollins; joint third, Mrs Collette Jones, Parkside Close, Radcliffe and Irene and Edward Kelly, Settle Close, Lowercroft; fourth, Miss J. L. Corcoran, Patterdale Place, Bury.

Back yard, balcony, small patio: first, Lynn Hesketh, Wolsey Street, Radcliffe; second, Mrs Ruth Levasseur, St Thomas Street, Radcliffe; third, Ms Judith Appleby, Hurst Street, Bury; fourth, Mrs Doris Foster, Devon Drive, Ainsworth.

Large trade, industrial, commercial premises, public houses: Auto Rescue, Stubbins Lane, Ramsbottom.

Community Garden Projects: Topping Fold Library community garden.

The Bury Times Trophy: Hollins Village Community Association for its work in the community in improving and brightening up the area for local people.