THE pick of the crop in Bolton's horticultural scene have been honoured for making the town a much more colourful place.

This year's Bolton in Bloom competition saw a host of entrants in the various categories making for some difficult decisions for the judges from Bolton Council's Landscape department.

The competition, sponsored by the BEN, Bolton Council, Barton Grange Garden Centre and De Vere Whites Hotel, kicked off in earnest in June with green-fingered residents being asked to send in snaps of their prized gardens or hanging baskets.

From here judges from the council and Barton Grange made a shortlist of competitors and arranged to inspect their gardens at first hand.

It wasn't just eye-catching blooms the judges were looking for because contestants had to impress with their enthusiasm, enterprise and initiative.

They also had to show their green spirit by proving their garden was environmentally friendly through such things as water conservation and composting.

But it wasn't just Bolton that was going back to nature because similar competitions were being held at the same time to find gardening champs in Horwich and Blackrod.

Once the judges had made their decisions the winners were invited to Bolton's Festival Hall to receive their prizes from the town's deputy mayor, Cllr Alan Wilkinson.

Horwich winners were presented their prizes by mayoress Joyce Kellett and Blackrod awards were presented by mayoress Pat Barrow.

Winners in each group picked a vase courtesy of the BEN, £100 worth of Barton Grange vouchers with hanging basket winners picking up £50 and a meal for two at the De Vere Whites Hotel.

Next year's competition, which falls in the Queen's Golden Jubilee year, promises to be bigger and better than ever.

The BEN can announce that there will be a special prize will be given for the best use of the colours purple and yellow which are Bolton's official colours for the Commonwealth Games. Contest section prizes Hanging Baskets: Mrs J Holmes. Runners-up: Mr Brian Heywood, Mrs Dorothy Bithell.

Best Large Garden (over 200 square metres): Mr and Mrs Hilton. Award of Merit: Mr and Mrs Latham, Mrs Denise Gleaves, Joan Cheadle. Highly Commended: Mr and Mrs Moon.

Best Small Garden (under 200 square metres): Mr Denver Thornton. Award of Merit - Mr Andrew Child, Mrs Vera Dudley.

Best Back Yard: Mr D Grimwood.

Fairhurst Trophy Competiton: 1 Mr George Haslam, 2 Mr Roy Dyson, 3 Mr Les Butterworth.

Fred Greenhalgh Trophy: 1 Mrs Linda Smith, 2 Mr Robert Walch, 3 Mr Roy Greenhalgh.

Best New Tenants Trophy: 1 Mrs Robina Butterworth, 2 Mr Duncan Barber, 3 Mr Gary Whitehead.

George Memorial Trophy: Mrs Linda Smith.