A GARDENING competition has seen Richmondshire residents battle it out to claim a coveted title for green-fingered skills.

Richmondshire District Council tenants are encouraged to make their gardens look blooming lovely for the annual competition to find the best gardens, window boxes, tubs, baskets, borders and vegetable patches.

They are given a month to get their plots in top condition before mystery judging over the summer months.

Geoff and Betty Yare from East Witton impressed judges with an upturned tree incorporated in their back garden, resulting in it being crowned best garden in Lower Wensleydale for a second year.

In Catterick village, Kim Wakeham retained her winning title, and in Reeth Graham and Rosemary Frankland took first place for the fourth year in a row.

First place in the Garrison area went to Derrick Brown; and Joanna Crowe from Newsham won the North Richmondshire area prize.

Gardens are judged in the five areas of the district – central, Garrison, Lower Wensleydale, North Richmondshire and Upper Dales.

Councillor Peter Wood said: “We created this competition to recognise the efforts our tenants make to brighten up their streets and estates by creating and maintaining lovely gardens.”