A GREEN-fingered couple who adopted a piece of council land in the middle of a village housing estate have been named winners in a new gardening competition.

John and Sheila Templeton created a garden on a piece of unwanted land near their home in Brompton on Swale and were judged for that as well as their own garden.

The competiton organised by Richmondshire District Council encouraged tenants to make make the best of their gardens, window boxes, tubs, baskets, borders and vegetable patches.

Gardeners had a month to get their plots into top condition before they were marked by mystery judges.

Councillor Peter Wood, member for housing, said: “We created this competition to recognise the efforts that our tenants make to brighten up their streets and estates by creating and maintaining lovely gardens.

“It was a very hard task deciding who were the winners because there were so many excellent and colourful displays. Congratulations must go to them all.”

The prizewinners were: Central: 1 Mr and Mrs Templeton; Joint 2 Mr R Elliott, Brompton on Swale and Mr and Mrs S Ward, Sleegill.

Garrison: 1 Mr D Brown, Hipswell; 2 Mr and Mrs E Walsh, Colburn; Joint 3 Mr and Mrs F Hill, Colburn and Mr S Beattie, Colburn.

Lower Wensleydale: Joint 1 Mr and Mrs J McGregor, Redmire and Mr and Mrs A Worboys, Harmby; 3 Mrs E Brown, Harmby.

North Richmondshire: 1 Mr and Mrs J Dixon, Aldborough St John; 2 Mr R Carter, Croft on Tees; 3 Mr and Mrs B Swantson, North Cowton.

Upper Dales: 1 Mr and Mrs G Frankland, Reeth; 2 Mr and Mrs D Bastow, Reeth; 3 Mrs M Whitehead, Reeth.