HUNTINGDONSHIRE excelled at this year’s Anglia In Bloom competition, with three category winners as well as gold and silver awards galore.

Godmanchester led the charge, winning a gold award as well as being announced the overall winner for the small town section of the competition. Holt Island nature reserve in St Ives won the biodiversity award and Jacksons Engineers in Godmanchester won the individual/community floral display category.

St Neots and St Ives were among the gold award winners in the large town category, Hinchingbrooke Country Park won a gold in the parks over 10 acres section and Moor In Bloom, representing the Oxmoor, won a silver award in the urban community category.

The awards followed months of planning, planting and presentation to judges – much of which was done by volunteers and community groups.

The winners were presented with their certificates at a ceremony in St Albans today (September 10) which was attended by about 300 people.

Chairman of Godmanchester In Bloom, John Thackrey, said: “The whole town has played a really important part in bringing the community together over the past few years and it culminated today. Everybody has more than done their bit.

“We’re delighted to have won the best small town, it’s a massive achievement when you consider the number of other towns we were up against.”

Ian Jackson, chairman of the Friends of Holt Island group, said: “We’ve continued to work hard through the year and it has paid off. We opened our new interpretation centre last week which allows the public to go in and see what we do on the island – it’s as much about education as it is about conservation.

“We’re absolutely delighted because this is for the whole of East Anglia. It’s a huge accolade and a reflection of the work that has been put in to improve the island’s visitor experience.”