GARDENERS from across East Anglia descended on Sudbury yesterday to discover who would scoop the top honours in this year’s prestigious Anglia in Bloom competition.

Frinton-on-Sea and Halstead were the big winners from the region while Bury St Edmunds, which was awarded a gold, was pipped by Huntingdon for the overall East Anglia winner.

The awards ceremony at the Delphi Club in Sudbury was packed with nearly 300 people who had toiled in parks, gardens and streets in their towns and villages throughout last year.

Frinton was crowned champion of the small town category while Halstead scooped the town award.

Other notable victories from Essex and Suffolk included Castle Park in Colchester for best local authority floral display and Clare Country Park for best public open space.

Colchester and Ipswich were runners-up behind Bedford in the best small city category.

Bob Ollier, chairman of Anglia in Bloom, said the challenging climate over the last year had presented tough conditions for those nurturing bedding plants and gardens.

“I wish to congratulate all the communities and neighbourhoods in the East of England for their enthusiasm, commitment and effort made to improve, develop and sustain local environments across our region,” he said.”

Despite the celebrations, Mr Ollier warned that tough times lay ahead and entries next year would reflect this. “We are facing really tough financial times in the future and the next few years could be very difficult for all of us,” he said.

His warning was backed by George Dawson, Anglia in Bloom’s chairman of judges, who said there would be little Government funding for local authorities in the future.

He told the audience: “Your commitments to Anglia in Bloom make the eastern region a better place to live. We must continue to spread the word about the benefits this competition brings to East Anglia.”

Winner and Gold Award, Small Town: Frinton-on-Sea. Silver Gilts to Saxmundham, Kelvedon, Martlesham and Oulton Broad

Winner and Gold Award, Town (6,001 - 12,000 residents): Halstead. Silver Gilt Award: Woodbridge, Sudbury and Burnham-on-Crouch

Winner and Gold Award, Village: Bulphan, Essex

Gold Award, Large Town: Bury St Edmunds. Silver Award: Newmarket

Best Local Authority Floral Display: Castle Park, Colchester

Best Public Open Space: Clare Country Park

The Roy Lacey Award: Bert Williams, of Halstead

Other placements included a bronze award for Cavendish in the village category, a silver for Clare and Kirby-le-Soken in the large village, silver gilts for the small city category went to Colchester and Ipswich.

Felixstowe was awarded a silver gilt for best coastal resort.

Levington secured a silver for best small village.