Darlington came under the scrutiny of a pair of gardening judges yesterday.

The town was put under the spotlight by two of the people who will ultimately decide the destination of prizes in this year's Britain in Bloom contest.

The day of judgement came after months of potting, pruning and planting in the town.

Jim Buttress and Walter Gilmore arrived in Darlington to assess the town's entry in the city category of one of the country's top horticultural and environmental competitions.

They were looking for a clean, litter-free environment which is enhanced by flowers, shrubs and appropriate landscaping.

The pair were also looking to see evidence of community involvement and that issues such as nature conservation and recycling had been addressed.

Darlington faces tough competition from five other towns and cities in its category, which is based on population size. The others are Carlisle, Thurrock, Nuneaton and Bedworth, Newport and Exeter.

Now Darlington faces a wait until September 27 when the winners will be announced at a ceremony in Durham Cathedral.