FOR an incredible eighth successive year gardening guru Derrick Cocker has proved himself top of the plots.

Leigh man Derrick beat-off strong competition to retain the coveted Prescott Trophy for the best kept allotment in Wigan borough.

Derrick's productive Lilford Park allotment earned him the title yet again but following him home in the competition were two more Leigh growers -- runner-up Ian Lythgoe, who also gardens at the Lilford site, and third-placed Hope Carr allotment holder Brian Ashurst.

Impressed Council cultural services leader Cllr Brian Baldwin congratulated the trio: "Overall standard of entries was again very high making Derrick's latest triumph all the more remarkable. Congratulations to Leigh whose gardeners are really setting the standard."

The competition is named after James Prescott, a keen Leigh gardener who gave the prize to Leigh Borough Council in 1956 to encourage people to look after their allotments.