WINNER of this year's Poole in Bloom competition flowered with success as they received their awards.

Chairman Denise Hill congratulated all those who took part in making the town a more colourful place, at the ceremony held at Upton House.

The school's colouring competition attracted 1,125 entries and there were entries from schools who are introducing youngsters to environmental and gardening projects.

"Despite the hot summer, many front gardens and commercial frontages had added a great deal of colour to their neighbourhoods. giving pleasure to passers-by and shoppers," she said.

She urged people to think before paving over their front gardens for parking and consider combining the two.

Prizes were presented by Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, including vouchers from garden sponsors Golden Acres Nursery, and B&Q who sponsored the school's environmental competition.

Courthill First won the Schools Environmental Competition and colouring competition winners were Natasha Gurney-Tinsley, 4, and Olivia Dennett, 6, of Stanley Green First; Tom Howard, 7, Bearwood Primary; Shannon Pitman, 8, Talbot Combined; Grace Wotton, 9, Baden-Powell and St Peter's Middle; Tabitha Hellawell, 9, Buckholme Towers; Saema Jaffer, 11, Longfleet Combined and Sian Sandever, 12, Talbot Combined.

Best Garden Frontage and Continental Shield, Pauline and David Bothwell; Best Traditional Summer Garden and ECO Shield, Mr and Mrs Jack Carman; Best Garden on a Challenging Site, Mr K Adams; Best Summer Display on small frontage, Mr J Whitmore; Best Communal Garden, Barbers Wharf Flats Residents Group, Best New Entry, Mr P. Moore.

Sheltered Housing - Best Site, Woodstock Close; Best Community Frontages, Mr Hole, Mr and Mrs Milham, Mrs Francis and Mrs Parker; Best Individual Frontages, Ms Rondeau, Mr Kerley and Miss Palmer.

Best Pub Frontage, town centre, Royal Oak and Gas Tavern; Best out of town, New Stepping Stones, Broadstone; Best Large Hotel/Pub, Inn in the Park, Branksome; Best Small Business, Ives and Shand Ltd, Parkstone; Best Office/Industrial, Haven Business Centre, Sandbanks.

Best Small Guest House, Harbour View; Best Caf/Restaurant, joint winners Alcatraz and Taj Mahal; Best Leisure Frontage, Broadstone Bowling Club; Best Social Club/Community Frontage, Broadstone Conservative Club, Best Nursing/Rest Home Garden, Burwood Nursing Home, Broadstone.