AN EAST Dorset garden centre has been awarded a record number of top prizes in a special ceremony.

Haskins in Ferndown received a total of 18 merit awards in the South Thames Garden Centre Association prize-giving.

Manager Matt Hill accepted the trophies on behalf of all 140 full- and part-time staff at the centre, and said that he was "delighted" that employees' professionalism and hard work had been recognised.

Award winners are chosen based on audits conducted by Garden Centre Association-appointed inspectors.

Haskins received prizes in a number of categories, including indoor plants, garden care and pots and ornamentation, car parking, toilets, disabled facilities, customer service and restaurant.

Mr Hill said: “We are pleased to have gained such high level of appraisal in the contest.

"We and our sister centre near Worthing also scooped first and second place as the best out of 18 destination centres in the South Thames region.

“I’m delighted that our hard working team has been able to impress both customers and inspectors as we continue to invest in the enhancement of the centre.”