A COLOURFUL awards ceremony has recognised the region's most outstanding floral displays.

Results of Northumbria in Bloom were announced at Newcastle Racecourse yesterday.

Stockton was celebrating after retaining the best city category, while Darlington won the best small city category.

Darlington Mayor Councillor Stella Robson said: "We are delighted by this. This keeps up what is a wonderful track record.

"The overall quality of the competitors gets better all the time, which makes winning all that more special.

"It is good to have just taken part, because people in the community have enjoyed helping create such a pleasant environment. Getting the prize is the icing on the cake."

Newcastle won the best large city award, while Whickham, in Gateshead, won the best large town category.

The Saltburn in Bloom committee was also celebrating after winning in the coastal resort section yet again - the town made the headlines three years ago after a poisoner tried to wreck the town's efforts by putting weedkiller into a water tank used to spray flowers.

The best overall entry was won yet again by Warkworth, in Northumberland.

Northumbria in Bloom, 2005

Major Trophies

Best Small Village, Callerton; Best Village, Earsdon; Best Large Village, Warkworth; Best Small Town, Haltwhistle; Best Town, Hexham; Best Large Town, Whickham; Best Small City, Darlington; Best City, Stockton; Best Large City, Newcastle; Best Urban Community, Rowlands Gill; Best Coastal Resort, Saltburn; Evening Chronicle Trophy, Billingham; Best Overall Entry, Warkworth; Best School Horticultural Project, Outdoor Classroom, Primary School, Middleton-in-Teesdale; Best Voluntary Project, Eden Residents Community Garden, Spennymoor; Best Conservation Project, Ferryhill Carrs; Best Railway, Bus or Metro Station, Concord Bus Station, Washington; Best Effort for Upkeep of External Premises - Public Houses and Hotels, Potters Wheel, Whickham; Prisons, Colleges, Universities and Sports Grounds, Bowling Club, Saltburn; For Innovation in Parks and Open Spaces, Sea Front at South Shields.