CEMENT City is positively blooming these days.

And it's all because of the Groundwork St Helens gardening competition.

The competition, funded by Parr Partnership SRB, Pathways Objective One and Liverpool Housing Trust, called for competitors in three separate categories -- Most Improved Garden, Best Garden for a Disabled Resident, and Best Garden Overall.

Groundwork project officer, Rebecca Hargreaves, said: "We received 43 entries and the judging took two days to short-list through visiting each resident's garden and a whole day to short-list finalists."

All winners and runners-up attended a special presentation ceremony at St Peter's Church Hall, Delta Road, Parr where Mayor of St Helens, Councillor Pat Robinson, presented certificates and prizes.

The winners were:

Most Improved Garden category: 1st: Andrew Murray (aged 13); 2nd: Mr J. Cunliffe and Ms S. Paxton: 3rd: Mr and Mrs Benfield. Highly Commended: Ms A. Penney and Mr and Mrs Welsby.

Best Garden for Disabled Residents: 1st: Mr and Mrs Andrews; 2nd: Mr and Mrs Grice: 3rd: Mr and Mrs Finney.

Best Garden Overall: 1st: Ms S. Beaumont and Mr N. Lever; 2nd: Mr and Mrs Romich: 3rd: Mr P. King. Highly Commended: Mr and Mrs Langton and Mr Mercer.