GREEN-FINGERED residents on a Blackpool housing estate showed off their blossoming skills in a unique competition recently.

Busy occupants of Grange Park took part in a gardening contest organised by the estate's residents' association, with prizes for the winners and runners-up in various categories.

Categories included best garden, hanging basket and best community garden, with the winners receiving a trophy, certificate and B&Q vouchers.

The main winners were Bob and Christine Dewhirst, of Fulwood Avenue, who took first prize of the Lesley O'Neill Memorial Trophy and also won the best design category.

A delighted Mrs Dewhirst said: "I was gobsmacked when I was told we had won! There are so many beautiful gardens on the estate.

"We have no great gardening skills but we do work hard to make the overall appearance look good. After all it doesn't matter where you live you have to create your own bit of paradise."

Organising committee member Chris Wright said: "This is the second year we have run the competition and it has proved very popular. We wanted to reward people who take pride in where they live and the response has been tremendous.

"This area often receives a bad press, but this shows there are a lot of good people round here who really care about where they live."

The competition is sponsored by Blackpool Council's housing department and the judging panel featured members of the resident association, parks staff and local councillor Monte Sidford.

Next year's competition promises to be bigger than ever and will feature a new category for best commercial shop front.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.