Mark BoggisKIRKLEY High School have won one of the top awards in today's prestigious Anglia in Bloom awards ceremony.The annual event, held today (Wednesday) at The Ocean Rooms in Gorleston, attracted more than 450 people from the six counties of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk - who were all competing for the top prizes.Mark Boggis

KIRKLEY High School have won one of the top awards in today's prestigious Anglia in Bloom awards ceremony.

The annual event, held today (Wednesday) at The Ocean Rooms in Gorleston, attracted more than 450 people from the six counties of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk - who were all competing for the top prizes.

And in the Best Young Persons Project (12-18 years) category there was joy as the school in Kirkley Run beat off regional competition from four other nominees to collect the prize for their courtyard garden.

Elsewhere, 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 the second prize was just reward for the hard-working efforts of the Lowestoft in Bloom committee.

Likewise, there was 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.

Bob Ollier Chairman of Anglia in Bloom said: 'With the ever changing annual climate we are all becoming accustomed to, we have this year been subjected to an even greater challenge, our Bloomers have had sustained hot weather, then periods of heavy rain, it has become a real challenge to all the entries, who have had the task of nurturing many tender bedding plants through these mixed spells of weather, the achievements by the entrants this year has been remarkable, with no fewer that 15 RHS Gold medals awarded by the judges, this shows entrants are achieving many superb floral and sustainable displays, which are a credit to the entrants in the Anglia region.

'I congratulate all the communities and neighbourhoods in the East of England, for the enthusiasm, commitment and effort made to improve, develop and sustain local environments across our region, it is a great credit to you all, remember by taking part you are all winners - well done,' he added.

Wisbech collected the Best Overall Entry and winner of the Anglia In Bloom trophy.

On September 23, five entries from Anglia in Bloom will go forward to this year's National Britain in Bloom Finals, which are held at Torquay - with Bedford, Filby, Hunstanton, Moor (Huntingdon) and Wisbech all in with the chance of the top prize.