TRIUMPHANT Sedgefield carried off the award for the best small country town for the eleventh consecutive year.

Mayor Linda Maddison picked up the Whitworth Hall and Gardens Trophy at the awards ceremony.

The entry was organised by the Sedgefield in Bloom committee and the town council.

Judges praised the "very impressive" entry and said it was "quite clear the high level of participation from villagers."

They also said it was a much-loved small country town, and gave a special mention for the village green and tubs displays and also the memorial garden and churches.

Committee secretary Maxine Robinson said the town's entry this year had been the "best ever".

She said: "The judges were really pleased with the standard of the entry and we have done exceptionally well again.

"We have got a beautiful canvas to start with when you look at the vistas from the village green and the church.

"It is no good having one area of the village that is particularly good and having another that is scruffy.

"What we're finding is that there are more residents taking part and more businesses coming on board, which can only help."

Mrs Robinson praised the support of volunteers and local schoolchildren and said much work had been done to identify any possible weaknesses in the entry.