WHEN gardening enthusiast Michael Murtagh went to the annual Sedgefield Civic Trust Floral Awards presentation in Sedgefield Parish Hall, he expected to receive a certificate for being second in his class.

But he also received the Eric Lowes Cup for best runner-up - not having won a first prize in the previous four years.

Chairman of the trust, John Ingham, said he was delighted that Mr Murtagh had won the trophy for his Elm Avenue garden.

Mr Ingham said one of the aims of the competition was to encourage local people to show a pride in their gardens.

A former mayor of Sedgefield and long-term member of Sedgefield Civic Trust, Margaret Bell, presented the awards, including the George Robinson Trophy, which was won by the Dun Cow Inn for the 18th time as best commercial premises in a conservation area.

Licensee Geoff Rayner accepted the trophy before rushing away to act as host for an important customer, Prime Minister and Sedgefield MP Tony Blair.

For the fifth time, Mr and Mrs I Sutherland, of East Parade, received the Doris Etherington Cup for best non-commercial garden in the conservation area.

This year other parts of the expanding village were split into north/south sections. The Monica Cunningham Cup for the north section went to Mr and Mrs Alan Coyle, of Hardwick Road; and the Monica Waters Cup for the southern section to Mr and Mrs E Sibley, of Claremont Grove.