OUTSTANDING gardens were celebrated as another successful Billericay in Bloom competition his the town.

There were a number of categories for residents, schools and businesses to enter - including best church grounds, best wildlife garden, best sheltered accommodation, best hanging basket and best school vegetable plot.

Winners included Sunnymede Infant School, in The Meadoway, Billericay - which took the best school garden gong.

Alfie Spagnol who won best plant in a container, while Buttsbury Infant School, in Perry Street, won the best vegetable plot.

The Railway, in Billericay High Street, won best public house and F.E Farrer Funeral Directors took the accolade for best commercial premises.

Best sheltered accommodation went to Anisha Grange, in Outwood Common Road.

Reginald O’Neill Dental Care, in Chapel Street, was winner of the best wildlife garden.

Diane Moxley won the best front garden and John Dowsett was awarded the best back garden. Judges decided Lynn Townsend had best hanging basket.

There were categories for the elite entrants who had already taken first place last year to compete against each other.

Moira Moore, chairman of the committee, said: We had 55 entries this year. We had about 60 last year, but it is still up on two years ago.

“We had two judges from the Horticultural Society picking our winners.

“The standard of entries was very high - there were a lot of difficult decisions. I went round with the judges and it was really great to go and see the gardens.”