GREEN-FINGERED residents in Nantwich and Willaston have been celebrating this week with two runners-up places in a national contest.

Judges at this year's North West in Bloom decided the two places were blooming lovely in both their categories.

Nantwich took second runners-up place in the Best Town category with Knutsford also a runner-up and Poulton Le Fylde the overall winner.

Willaston scooped the runners-up spot in the Best Small Country Town section and was beaten by Garstang.

Nantwich Town councillor, and In Bloom committee member, Jean Hallam was very pleased with the result after Nantwich missed out last year.

"I'm delighted, everybody really rallied round and worked hard including the traders, town council and borough council," she said.

"One of our problems is litter but I don't know what we can do about that, it's people in a small minority.

"I am very pleased, as I'm sure my colleagues are. It's an improvement on last year."

This is believed to be Willaston's first time winning at the In Bloom competition and the committee were delighted with the result.

Four members of the committee travelled to Southport for the awards ceremony, Mike Crimes, Frank Morton, Ken Dentith and Michael Carter.

"We were very pleased and quite surprised," said Mr Carter. "We knew we were going to receive something but the most we expected was most improved.

"I think we were better organised this year and seemed to involve the whole community."

Crewe was voted the winner in the Best Large Town beating Fleetwood and St Annes to take the Palms Oasis Trophy.

John Bloss of the Crewe in Bloom committee said the judges had been impressed with the whole area.

"The judges were delighted with this part of South Cheshire, they commented on what a nice place it would be to live in," he said.

"Crewe has won more than 20 times but last year we missed out and it's the same with Nantwich, so its good that we are back on top again. And for Willaston it was the first time of winning so they are highly delighted."

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