PEOPLE with gardens of all shapes and sizes have been encouraged to enter the annual Darlington in Bloom competition.

The competition, which is run by volunteers working in conjunction with Streetscene at Darlington Borough Council, aims to encourage people to brighten up their outdoor space and show off their green-fingers.

There are categories for large and small gardens in town and rural locations, as well as a category for people who live in new houses with town-style gardens, but in rural locations.

There are also entries for community housing and pubs and a prize for the best kept allotment, in conjunction with the Darlington Allotment Associations.

Last year’s wet summer put a dampener on some of the competitors, but judge Allannah Robinson said people forget that everyone has to cope with the same weather.

She said: “We would go in to see people’s gardens and they would say that nothing had grown because of the wet weather, but everyone was in the same bed.

“I’m sure this year the cold weather during spring will have put people off planting out too early, but there is still plenty of time.”

Mrs Robinson has called on more pubs to enter the competition and for more people with backyards to take part.

She said: “People hear ‘Darlington in Bloom’ and think it means big back gardens but some of the loveliest gardens I’ve seen since I’ve been doing this are those with small back yards."

The closing date for entries is Friday, June 21. Judging for the competition will take place in late July or early August, with the winners announced at an event in October.

To enter call 01325-347438 or email streetscene@darlington.gov.uk

Anyone entering the competition for someone else must inform them before applying.