GREEN fingered volunteers and groups hope for horticultural success after a visit from competition judges.

Representatives from the Royal Horticultural Society headed to Durham City and Chester-le-Street to consider the areas’ entries for Northumbria in Bloom.

In Durham, which is in the small city category, judges visited the Botanic Gardens and various Durham in Bloom partners to view their displays and environmental improvement projects. They then toured Chester-le-Street, is flying the flag in the large town category.

Judges also met some of the people who have work hard, supported by Durham County Council’s Clean and Green and Civic Pride teams, to keep the areas looking good.

Oliver Sherratt, the county council’s head of environmental services, said: “Northumbria In Bloom aims to bring cheer to the region through community gardening. A lot of hard work goes in to environmental improvements across our county and we are very proud to introduce the judges to some of the many groups who put so much effort into making our towns and villages such colourful and attractive communities.

“We’re hopeful that we can follow on the fantastic success we had last year with our In Bloom entries, when Chester-le-Street was awarded the Best Large Town prize and Durham won both the Small City category and Best Overall Entry.”

The results will be announced in September.