THERE was joy this week as Kirkley High School won one of the top awards in the prestigious Anglia in Bloom competition.The school in Kirkley Run, Lowestoft was jumping for joy as they beat off regional competition from six different counties and four other nominees to collect the prize for their environmental efforts.

THERE was joy this week as Kirkley High School won one of the top awards in the prestigious Anglia in Bloom competition.

The school in Kirkley Run, Lowestoft was jumping for joy as they beat off regional competition from six different counties and four other nominees to collect the prize for their environmental efforts.

They won the Best Young Persons Project (12-18 years) category for their courtyard garden development, which has evolved to transform other areas and projects round the school.

The project has been led by environmental skills and horticulture teacher David Banks and a band of hardworking students from different age groups.

Headteacher, Richard Pickard, told The Journal: 'This award came about through the hard work of Mr Banks and some of the students who've expressed an interest in the environmental side of things. They've all worked really hard to improve our areas around the school, putting in hours and hours of their time to create a phenomenal project, which includes a garden, vegetables, poultry and floral displays.

'To have success locally and regionally is tremendous and we are all overwhelmed with this award,' he added.

The annual regional awards event was held at the Ocean Room, in Gorleston, on Wednesday, attracting more than 450 people from the six counties of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk - who were all competing for the top prizes - with the Lowestoft in Bloom and Oulton Broad in Bloom committees represented.

Lowestoft's entry in the regional in bloom contest saw the town collect a silver gilt award in the Coastal Resort (up to 35,000 residents) section, which was won by Hunstanton.

But with another second prize seen as just reward for the hard-working efforts of the Lowestoft in Bloom team, committee member Gloria Honeywood said: 'We were so happy to receive silver gilt again, and we will still have another chance next year as we aim to bring back gold.'

There was also a silver gilt award for the Oulton Broad in Bloom team in the Small Town (2501-6000 residents) category, which was won by Frinton-on-Sea, with fellow north Suffolk town Bungay also collecting a silver gilt award.

There was also a nomination for The Yard Project, Lowestoft in the Best Community Project, which was put forward by the Lowestoft in Bloom team, but this was won by Cumberland Gardens, Redbourn.