THE dedicated team of gardeners which has designed and tended Darlington's bid for Britain in Bloom success is awaiting the judges' arrival.

The award-winning group has spent countless hours cutting, snipping, trimming and watering the thousands of bedding plants and flowers which are on display in the town.

Based at Darlington Borough Council's Woodburn Nursery, the team of four has grown about 1.5 million plants this year, which have been distributed to other local authorities around the country, including those in the North-East.

The team, headed by nursery manager Mark Riddle, has already earned the council a bronze medal at the Chelsea Flower Show this year. But all their hard work is about to come under the eye of Britain in Bloom judges, who are due in the town on Friday.

Supported by The Northern Echo, the council is hoping to win the best small city category.

Rebecca Williams, horticultural manager for the council, said: "The team, and everyone involved with this year's entry, has worked hard, and we're keeping our fingers crossed.

"There are some wonderful floral displays, especially the roundabouts, of which the Parkgate roundabout is particularly stunning and a personal favourite."

This year's local borough competition has been a community effort, with schools, pubs, voluntary organisations, shops, businesses and individuals producing their own floral displays.

Entries have flooded in, and the winners of the different categories will feature in The Northern Echo tomorrow