TOWNS and villages across Cambridgeshire are preparing and pruning for this year s Anglia In Bloom competition...and they want your help. St Neots, St Ives, and Huntingdon are all entering this year s In Bloom competition, getting ready for the judging wh

TOWNS and villages across Cambridgeshire are preparing and pruning for this year's Anglia In Bloom competition...and they want your help.

St Neots, St Ives, and Huntingdon are all entering this year's In Bloom competition, getting ready for the judging which takes place in July.

And as well as vying for regional success in the competition, organisers in Huntingdon and St Neots are also offering prizes for residents who have well-kept, colourful gardens.

In Huntingdon, prizes will be on offer for the best front garden, neighbourhood display, fruit and vegetable garden, and commercial premises. In addition there will also be a special award for providing community care through a gardening project.

Each category winner will have their gardens included in the town portfolio to be judged by the Anglia in Bloom committee.

Huntingdon received a silver award in last year's competition, and organiser Ann Colbert is hopeful that the town can achieve the gold standard this time around.

Meanwhile, St Neots is offering prizes of gardening vouchers to the owners of the best front garden in the town, as well as plaques and certificates for the best commercial properties.

The winning displays will also form part of the town's Anglia in Bloom entry.

Margaret Sharp, chairman of St Neots in Bloom, said: "We are in the process of putting together our entry and we hope that lots of people in the town will enter the competition and get involved in achieving a top award for St Neots."

Meanwhile, St Ives is looking for volunteers to help organise the town's efforts and get involved with Anglia in Bloom - contact the town council for details.

Ramsey is not entering the competition, though Ramsey in Bloom committee member Dennis Jackson is looking for gardening help around the town.

Cambourne is also not entering this year's competition, though there are plans to enter next year.

INFORMATION: To find out more, contact: Huntingdon - Ann Colbert, Huntingdon in Bloom, Town Council Office, 1 Trinity Place, Huntingdon, Cambs, PE29 3QA. 01487 822591/01480 383380. St Neots: Margaret Sharp, St Neots Town Council, The Priory, St Neots, Cambs, PE19 2BH. 01480 388911. St Ives: Anglia in Bloom, St Ives Town Council, Town Hall, St Ives, Cambs, PE27 5AL. 01480 388929. Ramsey: Contact Dennis Jackson on 01487 814334.