A BLOOMING good time was had by all at Bournemouth's Pavilion when the town's MP joined the Mayor at a prestigious awards ceremony to celebrate gardens across the borough.

The Bournemouth in Bloom committee saw prizes handed out in categories ranging from landscaped premises to language schools.

Bournemouth East MP Tobias Ellwood gave a speech to entrants, and the town's mayor, Cllr Anne Filer, handed out the awards.

Joanna Keats, the chairman of Bournemouth in Bloom, said the awards represented everything good about the town.

"Everyone can appreciate some aspect of nature. I don't know anyone who doesn't like it," she said.

And Mrs Keats added that attractive gardens held bonuses for the town.

"The greener the town is, the more tourists will come. By working as part of a team, people have the chance to learn new skills."

Eighteen awards were handed out to gardeners from Springbourne, including a lady aged 93.

The Your Blooming Marvellous awards were given to people working hard to improve the area's image. "We wanted to recognise people who are trying really hard to bring up the area so people feel safer," said Mrs Keats.

The Mayor backed Mrs Keats' comments. "I represent Springbourne. The area has no parks at all. Every effort that people make, even the smallest window box, makes a difference to the whole area," said Cllr Filer.

The horticultural highlights of the year have included a national award for Westbourne.

The town scooped a silver gilt award in the coastal category of the Britain in Bloom awards after winning the regional category last year. The chairman of Westbourne in Bloom, Maureen Rouse, said the whole community had been involved.

"We included a regeneration project in Alum Chine, and work on the headlands at Durley Chine. It's not just about flowers," she said.

Best Shop Frontage: 1 Chez Fred; 2 Spar Improved Business Frontage: 1 Kaplan Aspect Best Hanging Baskets: Sage D'Or Best Commercial Frontage: 1, The Hogshead pub; 2, The Porterhouse pub. Special Commendation: Cleveland Hotel Best Large Front Garden: 1, Mr R. Tizzard, Surrey Gardens; 2, Mr & Mrs AC Jennings, Alumhurst Road; 2, Mr A M Wallis, Alumhurst Road Best Small Front Garden: 1, Mrs MC Brown, Surrey Gardens; 2, Mr PM Hillier, Alum Chine Road; 3, Mr & Mrs K Baker, Sea Dene House, Burnaby Road Best Front Balcony/ Front Patio: 1, Mr B Williams, Tiverton Court; 2, Mr J Gibney, Seamoor Road; 2, Mr S Siggs, Seamoor Road; 3, Mrs E Marshallsay, Tiverton Court; Commended, Mr TN Derby, Southernhay Hotel, Alum Chine Road Williams Court (Poole Road) Award: 1, Mr. F Carter; 2, Mr & Mrs P Mackenzie; 3, Mrs B Jackson; 3, Mr & Mrs K. Simmons.

Projects In Schools: 1, Epiphany C of E School; 2, St Walburga R C Primary School; 3, Federation of St Clement's and Bethany Schools; 3, Christ the King; Commended, Kings Park Primary School Youth Clubs/ Community Centres: 1, Linwood Youth centre, Alma Road Large Front Garden: 1, Mrs M. Dudden, Ravine Road; Highly Commended, Mr R Scarfe, Vale Road; Highly Commended, Mary Jarvis, Meon Road; Highly Commended, Steve & Joanne Kerr, Belle Vue Road Small Front Garden: 1, Mrs Valerie Engler, Spring Road; Highly Commended, Mrs C Wood, Eagle Rise, Mallard Road; Highly Commended, Tom Wild, Mallard Road; Highly Commended, Mr & Mrs Dow, Eventide Homes; Highly Commended, Mr R. Miles, Wilson Road; Highly Commended, Mrs H Bennett, Edgehill Road; Highly Commended, Mrs E Deadman, Evelyn Road Alford Achievement Award; 1, Mrs K. Bott, Cranmer Road Balconies: 1, Mr B, Williams, Tiverton Court; Highly Commended, Mr N Davies, Wychwood Grange, Braidley Road Best Hanging Basket: 1, Jean Willis, Victoria Road; Highly Commended, Marsham Court Hotel, Russell Cotes Road; Highly Commended, Margaret Dudden, Ravine Road; Highly Commended, Mr and Mrs Chesterman, Christchurch Road Best Container Garden: 1, Mr R. Luther, Stour Park, New Road; Highly Commended, Mrs Jean Willis, Victoria Road; Highly Commended, Mary Jarvis, 47 Meon Road; Highly Commended, Mrs H Bennett, Edgehill Road Junior Environmental Award: 1, Jordan Bushnell, Tower Road Environmental Garden: 1, Mr Bushnell, Tower Road; Highly Commended, Solent Pines, Manor Road; Highly Commended, Yenton Hotel; Highly Commended, Mrs H. Bennett, Edgehill Road Best Sustainable Garden For Birds: 1, Mrs M Marsh & Mr J Anscombe, Eventide Homes, Castle Lane East; Highly Commended, Mrs H Bennett, Edgehill Road Flats/Apartments - Grounds: 1, Bath Hill Court, Bath Road; Highly Commended, Elizabeth Court, Grove Road; Highly Commended, Solent Pines, Manor Road; Highly Commended, Eventide Homes, Castle Lane East Flats/ Apartments - Grounds - Volunteers: 1, Eventide Homes, Castle Lane East; Highly Commended, Dunholme Manor, Manor Road; Highly Commended, Park View Court, West Drive; Highly Commended, Wychwood Grange, Braidley Road Award For Improved Horticultural Project: 1 Allington House, Dean Park Road; Highly Commended, Linwood Youth Centre, Alma Road; Highly Commended, Castlepoint Shopping Centre Language School: 1 Kaplan Aspect, Poole Road; Highly Commended, Richard Language College, Wimborne Road Residential Home Park: 1, Stour Park, New Road Best Garden With a Residential Home Park: 1, Mr Norris, Roi Mar Park; Highly Commended, Mrs Pike, Roi Mar Park; Highly Commended, Mr R Luther, Stour Park Residential Nursing Homes: 1, Drumconner Nursing Home, Poole Road; Highly Commended, Riseborough Care Home, Branksome Wood.

Warden Assisted Homes: 1, Williams Court, Poole Road; Highly Commended, Wimborne House, Stokewood Road; Highly Commended, Park View Court, Queens Park West Drive Pubs And Inns: 1 The Grove Tavern, Southbourne Grove; Highly Commended, The Hogshead, 1 Alumhurst Road; Highly Commended, The Shamrock Bar, St Michael's Road; Highly Commended, Westcliff Tavern, Westcliff Road Restaurants: 1, Cuccini's; Highly Commended, Cellar Barr & Restaurant, Christchurch Road.

Small Retail Shop: 1, Harry Tomes, Tower Road Large Retail Store/ Stores: 1, Castlepoint Shopping Centre; Highly Commended, Beales of Bournemouth Landscaped Commercial Premises: 1, Deric Scott, Portman Lodge Funeral Home; Highly Commended, Yenton Hotel, Gervis Road; Castlepoint Shopping Centre; Highly Commended, Coach House, Sommerville Road Arcades: 1 Westbourne Arcade.

Places of Worship: 1, St John's Church, Boscombe, Christchurch Road; Highly Commended, Boscombe Baptist Church, Palmerstone Road Medical Centres: Chiropractic Treatment Centre, St Swithun's Road Hospitals: The Nuffield Hospital, Landsdowne Road Day Centres: Highly Commended, Diana, Princess of Wales House, Lorne Park Road Outdoor Bowling Club Greens: 1, Richmond Park, Fitzharris Drive; Highly Commended, Kings Park, Kings Park Drive; BOURNEMOUTH AREA HOSPITALITY ASSOCIATION (BAHA) awards: Large Establishment - Hard Surface: 1 Elstead Hotel, Knyveton Road; Highly Commended, The Water Garden Hotel, Christchurch Road Small Establishment - Hard Surface: 1, Southernhay Hotel; Highly Commended, Cransley Hotel, Knyveton Road Large Establishment With Garden: 1, Hotel Miramar, East Overcliff Drive; Marsham Court Hotel, Russell Cotes Road Small Establishment With Garden: 1, Balincourt Hotel, Christchurch Road; Highly Commended, Wood Lodge Hotel BAHA Overall Winner: Hotel Miramar, East Overcliff Springbourne In Bloom Winners: Mr Hopkinson, Holdenhurst Road; Karen Evans, Wesley Close; Mrs Slogget, Victoria Road; Jean Willis, Victoria Road; Maureen Gell, Windham Road; Valerie Engler, Spring Road; Yvonne Pocock, St Mary's Road; Mr Viera, St Mary's Road; Kim Roberts, Lincoln Avenue; Mr & Mrs Butcher, Garfield Avenue; Mrs Dawkins, Austin Close; Mrs J Godwin, Austin Avenue; Nik Etheridge, Windham Road; Mrs Rocha, South Road; Mr & Mrs Pascoe, Boscombe Grove Road; Mr Robert Miles, Wilson Road Garden Of Excellence: Margaret Dudden Pat Yiannakis Award For Volunteers: Edna Lipscombe Chairman's Award: John Cresswell