GREEN fingered Kendal in Bloom winners were celebrated at an awards ceremony.

Lynne Oldham, the chair of Kendal in Bloom, said she was impressed with both the number and the quality of entries in this year's competition.

"We had an excellent response and participation," she said. "A good number of entries - it was a very difficult decision to make."

Castle Park School was the overall winner for the Schools Challenge, which focused on the theme of space.

Fiona Barrett, the gardening club leader, said that the children were 'delighted' with the result.

"They were over the moon that we won," she said. "It's the second consecutive year that we have won."

The 12 children, aged between seven and ten, created a rocket design using alyssum, marigolds, calendula and other plants. They also planted eight hanging baskets in the colours of the eight planets.

"They learn where flowers and vegetables come from," Fiona said, talking about the importance of the club. "They learn the whole journey of planting a seed, how to look after it and how it becomes thing they want - whether that's fruit or vegetables."

Other winners included Pembroke Court and Underley Community Project, with the two jointly winning the Community Initiative category entitled 'Love Where You Love' and Greenside won the Best Overall Allotment Site.

"The ethos of it all is to look at and celebrate all that is going on and to encourage people to carry on with what they are doing," Lynne said.

Lynne also took the opportunity to thank two long standing Kendal in Bloom volunteers at the awards ceremony.

"Margaret Stott and Val Nelson, from Low Orchard, planted most of the containers around town and this year have retired," she said. "Thank you to them and we wish them a happy retirement."

The committee is now looking forward to the Britain in Bloom results, which will be announced on October 14 in Birmingham.