TOP gardeners from all over the country arrived in the North-East yesterday for the first Britain in Bloom finals of the new millennium.

Today, 60 towns, cities and villages will learn whether their efforts have impressed the judges enough to win an award.

Darlington, Sedgefield, Saltburn and Sunderland have all been shortlisted. The results will be announced during a ceremony in Durham Cathedral this morning.

Durham City is the first venue to be chosen by the competition organisers, the Tidy Britain Group, to host the finals twice.

Last night a celebration of the competition's 37 years was held in the cathedral.

It featured performances by Framwellgate School Choir, Belmont Ladies Choral Society and the Durham Singers.

Alan Woods, chief executive of the Tidy Britain Group, said: "We are delighted that the cathedral has agreed not only to stage the final, but to put together such an impressive celebration event.

"Since the early 1960s, Britain in Bloom has made an enormous difference to the quality of our cities, towns and villages and this evening of celebration will be our opportunity to thank all those volunteers who have been involved in the competition over the years.'