EVERYTHING is "blooming lovely" in the gardens of Horwich homeowners.

More than 300 enthusiastic residents entered the Horwich in Bloom competition.

Esther Fleming won the Bolton Evening News prize for her Commonwealth Games tub, and also the overall prize for her front garden.

Mrs Fleming, of Moor Platt Close, Horwich, spent hours working in her garden and the result was an array of summer colour for the competition. Around the edge of her well-clipped lawn, Mrs Fleming planted roses, bedding plants and marigolds, in keeping with the gold colours of the Commonwealth Games.

For her Commonwealth Games tub, she put together a display of purple petunias and gold marigolds to match the colours of the Commonwealth Games, to celebrate Bolton's part in hosting road cycling, mountain biking and badminton.

Her tub was described as outstanding and imaginative by the judges.

Mrs Fleming said: "It took me a while to plan out exactly what I wanted to do, but when I had finished I was really pleased.

"I was over the moon when I found out I had won."

Mrs Fleming was presented with a crystal vase for her tub, and £15 in gardening vouchers for her garden, by the town mayor, Cllr John Bragg.