ACOMB in Bloom competition winners received their awards last week.

A prize-giving ceremony was held at the latest Acomb Parish Council meeting (Wednesday October 6), with Kathryn and Alan Surtees winning the award for the best front garden.

The winner of the best containers award was Jennifer Jones, of Millersfield, while Elsie and John Glendenning, who live on Chapel Close, won the award for the best pensioners' garden.

The best residential award went to The Forge, and Vikki and Sophie Firth, of the Queens Arms, received the award for the best pub.

Sharon Betteridge, of Chapel Close, scooped the award for best plant, while Bob Cram was named the winner of best allotments.

Acomb parish councillors Charles Enderby and Sybil Gill, along with Eileen Burn, previous Chair of Northumbria in Bloom, looked at all the gardens in the village that can be viewed from the road at the end of July.

Coun. Enderby said Acomb's gardens get "better and better" every year.

"Our decisions become much harder every year," he said.

"We know these gardens give much pleasure to our residents and visitors.