Winners of Worthing in Bloom were rewarded for their efforts in bringing a touch of colour to the town.

A few winners who received prizes and trophies had been honoured in the competition before.

Hurst Grange in Parkfield Road won the nursing home and public building category for the fourth time in five years.

Manager Joan Burgess said she was delighted.

She said: "We won in 1997, 1998 and 1999 but last year we did not enter because there is an unwritten rule you should give somebody else a chance.

"We are a charitable trust so we do not have a lot of money to splash around.

"The gardener, my son James, brings a lot of plants himself and takes cuttings and begs, steals and borrows what he can for the garden."

Ron Carter, 83, was also celebrating after receiving the overall award for the best front garden.

Mr Carter, of Hollingbury Gardens, said he was out in his garden every day no matter what the weather was like.

He said: "I have been gardening all my life. I was brought up on it.

"Gardening runs in my family. My father, grandfather and great-grandfather were all keen gardeners.

"When my wife was alive she was keen at growing vegetables and I've always grown flowers. We used to make a good team."

It was not just those with green fingers who were commended at the presentation evening. The Argus sponsored the category for best photograph capturing the theme of Worthing in Bloom.

Unfortunately winner Desmond Weller, of Providence Terrace, was unable to receive his prize in person.

Worthing Borough Council's parks manager Chris Bradley said: "I would have thought we had about 100 entries in all. It was up on last year.

"The judging took place around the same time as the South-East in Bloom judges were here and if you have a lot of Worthing in Bloom gardens to show them, it bodes well."

Other winners included the Royal Oak, Brighton Road, for best public house or restaurant; St Albans Guest House and Chatsworth Hotel in the small guest house and large hotel categories; and Oakland Court for best residential road.