JUDGES for the Northumbria in Bloom competition have made their annual tour of Darlington to assess the town's displays.

Now Darlington Borough Council's gardeners are waiting to learn if they can add 2002 to their prize-winning years.

Rebecca Williams, the council's horticulture manager, said the judges seemed impressed, particularly with the fruits of the authority's tree strategy, which aims to safeguard the borough's arboreal heritage.

"We did a really good tour, including places such as West Cemetery, Stanhope Park, Stressholme Golf Club, looking at roundabouts and really taking in a lot of the town," she said.