MINISTERS Restaurant pipped the Dun Cow Inn to win the George Robinson Trophy for best commercial property in the Sedgefield Civic Trust Floral Competition.

The Doris Etherington Cup for the best private property in a conservation area was won by Mr and Mrs L Mitchell, of Stockton Road. Mr and Mrs T Stringwell, of Coach Cottage, and Mrs and Mrs F Smith and Mr and Mrs B Smith, of West End, were runners-up. Highly commended were Mr and Mrs G Jacobs, of East Parade; commended M Downing, St Edmunds Terrace.

Private properties northern section, Monica Cunningham Cup: 1 Mr and Mrs F Howlett, Conifer Avenue; 2, Mr and Mrs A Hall, Whitehouse Drive; 3, M Smith, The Lane. Highly commended were R Bell, and Mr and Mrs J Storey, of Rowan Oval, and J Ferguson, of Hawthorn Road. Commended were Mr and Mrs J Glendinning, Hall Lea, and Mr and Mrs K Saiger, Kerr Crescent.

Private properties southern section, Monica Waters Cup: Joint winners were Mr and Mrs H Allenson, Spring Lane, Mr and Mrs R Wright, Station Road; joint second, M Galley, Hadleigh Close and Dr and Mrs K Beveridge, Cragside; joint third, Mrs and Mrs G Dale, Claremont Grove, and Mr and Mrs I Hartgrove, Station Road. Highly commended, V Edmond, Eden Drive, Mr and Mrs J Waller, Queens Drive, and Mr and Mrs Blood, The Meadows. Commended were Mr and Mrs G English, Claremont Grove, F Stoddart, Mrs and Mrs J Walker, and Mr and Mrs M Gatty, all The Meadows, and Mr and Mrs S Webb and C Clayton, Wykes Close.

Awards will be presented on September 3, in Sedgefield Parish Hall, when the winners of the Eric Lowes Cup, for best private garden runner-up not a trophy winner, and the Margaret Bell Cup, for best private property highly commended not a trophy winner in four years, will be announced.