AN HISTORIC Heddon nursery has continued its golden streak after wowing judges with a floral rainbow.

Halls of Heddon has been showing dahlias at the Harrogate Autumn Flower Show since the 1950s.

And this year, the family-run nursery took home a Premier Gold Award for the fourth year running.

Dahlias are a speciality at Halls of Heddon; young plants are started out at the Ovington site before being planted out at the Heddon branch.

This year, third generation owner David Hall exhibited 600 blooms in 22 bowl arrangements.

The display was arranged by his cousin, Maxine Hall, who runs the Ovington nursery.

The judges were impressed by the co-ordination of the colourful display,

David said: “There were comments about how she had the flow of colours from dark burgundy, through to bright yellows then fading out to the paler colours.

“It was like a rainbow, flowing from one side to the other.”

Halls of Heddon was one of only a small number of entrants to receive a Premier Gold Award, one level below best in show, on September 15.

And though the plaudit is their fourth consecutive Premier Gold, David wasn’t expecting such a successful outcome.

He said: “We grow outside and open to the elements. There was torrential rain the night before we cut the blooms ready to travel to the show.

“We thought we would lose points because the dahlias hadn’t travelled in tip top condition.

“We’re competing against stands that attend shows like Chelsea Flower Show and Tatton Park. So we’re very pleased with the result.”