DURHAM City has secured the best large town title for the eighth consecutive year in the annual Northumbria in Bloom competition.

The results were announced at Hardwick Hall Hotel in Sedgefield, on Monday. The judges commented on the overall level of community participation involved in the entry with a range of commercial organisations, public bodies, voluntary groups and local residents working in partnership with the City Council to improve the local environment.

Andrew Jackson, co-ordinator of the Durham bid, said: "No matter how many times the top prize is awarded, it still gives you that same great feeling of achievement and it makes all of the hard work worthwhile.

"Having won in the past, other people in the competition look to see what we have done and try to take it a stage further.

"We not only have to keep up our standards, but raise them to keep the judges happy that we are trying to improve year on year."

All of the Durham team are hoping the award is a good omen for later in the month when the results for this year's Britain in Bloom are announced in Leeds on September 23.

First time winners Fishburn, were highly praised after winning in the voluntary project section.