FOR only the fourth time in its 20-year history Wimborne is in the running to scoop a national award in the prestigious Britain in Bloom competition.

The historic market town won gold in the regional competition last year. Anthony Oliver , Wimborne in Bloom chairman said: “We have never won the national small town title before even though we have been nominated on three previous occasions, so it would be great to achieve the title in our 20th anniversary year.”

The judges arrived in the town earlier this month to cast their expert eye over the town’s blooms.

“The judges seemed very impressed by all they saw,” Mr Oliver added. “How we will have done will not be known until early October, but one thing for certain is we couldn’t have done more”.

Wimborne’s competitors in the small town category are; Ahoghill (Ulster), Addingham (Yorkshire), Sedgefield (Northumbria) and Woodstock (Thames & Chiltern). The prize-giving will be held in Guernsey on October 6.