BLOOMING champion -- that's garden master Derrick Cocker.

The Leigh allotment keeper has just netted his sixth consecutive award for the borough's best-kept allotment, pipping fellow Leighite, Tommy Raikes by a single point.

Derrick's champion crops are nurtured on his Lilford Park patch and Tommy raises his top specimens on the Warrington Road allotments site.

Council cultural services chairman Cllr Brian Baldwin praised both gardeners: "Derrick's allotment remains the best in the borough and I congratulate him on yet another success.

"The overall standard of entries was very high."