A FORMER Houghall student has won a regional horticultural contest.

Chris Parsons won the Young Horticulturalist of the Year 2014 prize at the Institute of Horticulture’s Northern Regional Final.

He won £150 plus gardening equipment and will now go forward to the national final in Norwich in May, in the hope of winning a £2,000 travel bursary.

The contest is open to horticulturists under the age of 30. Mr Parsons was up against nearly 140 students from across the North.