FRESH from seeing golds, silvers and bronzes at the Olympics and Paralympics, Huntingdonshire is seeing gold again in this year’s Anglia in Bloom.

Brampton just edged Godmanchester to the best small town entry, although both were awarded gold status, while Sawtry picked up a silver gilt award in the same category.

The results were announced yesterday (Tuesday) at the Burgess Hall, St Ives, to a crowd of green-fingered hopefuls and dignitaries from across the region.

Huntingdon couldn’t match last year’s success in the large town category – the title went to Wisbech – but it maintained its gold status. St Neots also got gold but St Ives wasn’t able to improve on last year’s silver gilt award.

John Thackray, chairman of Godmanchester in Bloom, told The Hunts Post: “It’s a fantastic result for the town. It’s the first year we have got the gold award and it is due to the whole town’s involvement in our historic year.”

Moor in Bloom missed out on replicating last year’s win in the best urban community project and was given a silver award.

Holt Island and Port Holme Meadow were nominated for the biodiversity award but missed out to Broad and Marsh, run by Norwich University.

The Jubilee Gardens in St Neots also missed out on the best drought/sustainable garden award and St Albans pipped Sawtry to the environmental quality award.

Huntingdon Town Council’s Hartford Road display was also nominated for the best local authority floral display, but lost to Hunstanton.

Bob Ollier, chairman of Anglia in Bloom, said: “After one of the wettest and most difficult summers, including a hosepipe ban, it is astonishing that the Anglia communities have achieved some of the best blooming displays across the six counties.

“With superb floral displays and excellent community work, we have seen standards raised beyond expectations.

“It was evident his year that the key to success is community involvement, where everyone pulls together, gets involved and then delivers.”

Huntingdon and Moor in Bloom representatives will head to Guernsey on October 6 for the Britain in Bloom finals after winning their categories last year.