A POPULAR visitor attraction is celebrating after it scooped gold at Yorkshire in Bloom.

Yorkshire Lavender, at Terrington, near York, won gold in the visitor attraction section.

It is the second time the attraction has entered after it won silver in the same class last year.

Judges praised the wide range of attractions on offer at the ten-year-old Yorkshire Lavender. They also highlighted the knowledgeable staff who work there.

Karen Young, of Yorkshire Lavender, said: "We are really pleased with the result of the competition.

"You never really know how well you will do as there is a lot of good entries in that category."

Yorkshire Lavender was one of several entrants from the region who did well at the awards.

The chairman of Yorkshire in Bloom, Maurice Baren, said: "This has been another year when communities right across Yorkshire have shown what a positive difference our campaign makes to ensuring we care for and enhance the attractive qualities of our wonderful county."

Other local winners: Village section: Appleton Wiske, Northallerton, gold; Kirkby Malzeard, Yorkshire Dales, silver. Urban community section: Starbeck, Harrogate, gold. Public, private, charitable buildings section: Swan Court, Harrogate, silver. Guest houses, holiday cottages and small hotels section: Clowbeck Hotel, Croft, gold; Peasholm Park Hotel, Scarborough, silver. Large hotels section: Ripon Spa Hotel, silver gilt. Business premises section: Richard Preston and Sons, Potto, North-allerton, gold; Barkers Ltd, Northallerton, silver gilt. Country houses and estates section: Newby Hall, Ripon, gold; Ripley Castle, Harrogate, silver gilt. Sir Richard Graham Youth Enterprise Award section: Springwater School, Harrogate, gold; Moorside School, Ripon, Stakesby School, Whitby, and the Walled Garden Project, Ripon, silver gilts and Western Primary School, Harrogate, silver. Universities and colleges section: Askham Bryan College, York, gold; University of York, silver.