Worthing has won the bronze medal in an international environmental competition in China.

The town was represented by Mayor Valerie Sutton and two council officers on a three-day trip to the Nations in Bloom final in Shenzhen last week.

Hywel Griffiths, director of community services, and parks manager Chris Bradley gave lectures on the greening of Worthing's boroughs to delegations from Equador, Australia, Sweden, the United States and Canada before being awarded a certificate.

First prize went to Sweden.

Councillor Sutton said the group returned to Worthing last week with new ideas about town centre green belts.

She said: "A lot of people think Nations in Bloom is just about flowers but it's about the environment.

"The borough's greening strategy is our main concern and we gained technological information that will be of great help with this. We've come back with lots of ideas.

"I want to thank the sponsors who made this trip possible and who have helped promote Worthing on the world stage."

The trip initially sparked controversy when it was thought the £7,000 costs would come from taxpayers' money.

However a major sponsorship drive by the council resulted in private sponsors donating the entire sum.

Mr Griffiths and Mr Bradley will give a presentation in Worthing in the New Year with photographs of Shenzhen's parks and gardens.