Saltburn received a standing ovation when the results of the Northumbria in Bloom competition were announced yesterday.

The town's community was devastated earlier in the summer after a mystery poisoner slipped a cocktail of chemicals into water used on hundreds of colourful hanging baskets and displays.

But yesterday Jackie Taylor, organiser of Saltburn in Bloom, who has spent many months raising money for the town's flower displays, received the award on behalf of the town which won the coastal resort class.

She said: "I am absolutely thrilled. We're all delighted. It was lovely for the town and very emotional.

"One lady who had been going to the Northumbria in Bloom award ceremony for 22 years said she'd never seen a standing ovation before. Everyone was standing up as we collected our prizes.

"I can't say how grateful I am to all the people involved.

"I can't really comment on how Saltburn has done in Britain in Bloom, but one of the judges did say that we were off the scale for community involvement.

"But we have won anyway, because we have improved the place where we live and worked together as a community and supporting each other."

Northumbria in Bloom secretary June Beveridge said: "We think that Saltburn has been brilliant. They have had such a lot of help from the community and from outside. Saltburn has always been a good example and shown excellent community spirit.

"The judging for Northumbria in Bloom took place before the poisoning of the flowers and we'd already decided Saltburn were the winners, because they got the most points in their category.

"We just wish, after all the trouble, that they do well in the nationals which will be on Tuesday, September 30."