It's a blooming success!

Two proud Teesside towns are today toasting success in the finals of Britain in Bloom 2006. Stockton and Saltburn both scooped silver achievement awards at a prestigious ceremony in Scotland last night for their dazzling floral displays. For Saltburn it was a silver hat-trick, having won the award three years running, but for Stockton it was a first. The 65 finalists were judged by RHS judges who looked at floral displays, permanent landscaping, sustainable development, local environmental quality and public awareness. Few communities can have achieved such sustained Britain in Bloom success as Saltburn over the years and this year the town was praised for its "Victorian charm" when awarded the coastal town category in its eighth appearance in the national finals. RHS Judge Carolyn Wilson said: "Saltburn-by-the-Sea still retains much of its Victorian charm. The railway still remains at the heart of this resort, adorned in floral displays and baskets that are replicated throughout the town." Aberdeen was the overall winner for the city category, with Scarborough overall coastal winner at last night's ceremony in Perth. Earlier this month Stockton and Saltburn were both honoured in the Northumbria in Bloom's 2006 Awards.