ELDERLY and disabled gardeners have been honoured for their blooming successes in an annual competition.

In all, 175 gardeners from Durham County Council's day centres for people with a physical disability and/or sensory impairment, learning disability day centres, residential homes for older people, respite and resource centres and Extra Care schemes for the elderly, entered the council's Creating Gardens competition.

Judges Ann Ferguson, Jill Wheeler, Dorothy Jones and Mary Smith said they were impressed with the standard of entries, ranging from whole gardens to miniature ones.

Sidney Kay, 92, a tenant at The Orchards Extra Care scheme in Brandon, and 93-year-old Laurie Bowes, a tenant at Charles Dickens Lodge Extra Care scheme, Barnard Castle, were, for the second year running, joint winners of the Service User Gardener of the Year category.

Both have been keen gardeners all their lives, notching up more than 160 years of gardening experience between them.

Mr Bowes, a former coal miner, said he was delighted his efforts had earned him a prize.

He said: "I enjoy gardening. We had a small farm and I was taught gardening at school.

"We didn't have TV in our teens.''

Rachael Shimmin, corporate director for adult and community services, who presented the prizes, said: "Some of the people really get a lot out of receiving some recognition for what they have done."

Other winners in the competition were: Garden of the Year, The Orchards Extra Care, Brandon; Judges' Special Award, The Oaks centre, Newton Aycliffe; Large Special Feature, H-frame at The Oaks Centre, Newton Aycliffe; Small Special Feature, sloping garden at Hackworth House, Shildon; Best Container, Wheelbarrow Planter, Appleton Lodge EMI Extra Care, Spennymoor; Best Entrance, Southfield Lodge Extra care, Crook; Most Improved Garden, Harbour Lodge Extra Care, Seaham; Best Miniature Garden, Bede Day Centre service users, Barnard Castle; Staff Gardener of the Year, Helen Clark, The Oaks Centre, Newton Aycliffe; Service User Group Gardener of the Year, Maple Court Extra Care, Delves Lane.