GARDENERS, traders and the Durham public earned a pat on the back after the city repeated recent success in the annual Northumbria in Bloom awards.

For the sixth year running Durham won the Best Town category in the regional award scheme presentation earlier this week.

The city now hopes to enjoy success on a national scale when the Britain in Bloom results for 2002 are announced next week.

Durham is one of seven finalists in the large town category, in which it came second last year.

Coun David Bell, who has a responsibility for environmental and leisure matters on the city council, said the result relied on the commitment of local people working with the city council.

Coun Bell said: "Northumbria in Bloom raises the profile of the environment with local people.

"We have a fantastic team spirit among householders, businesses and neighbourhoods, all working together to help us win. It gives us all tremendous pride in our lovely city and surrounding district when we see it look so attractive and that is confirmed by winning a prestigious award like Northumbria in Bloom."

Coun Bell said the success was in part down to the input of residents and community groups, plus bodies like the City Forum, Chamber of Trade, Prince Bishops Shopping Centre, Durham University, the Dean and Chapter of Durham Cathedral, the City of Durham Trust, the county council, County Hospital, National Savings, East Durham and Houghall College and GNER.

The city council's horticulture team has planted and tended 55,000 bedding plants, 28,000 bulbs and 600 floral containers.

Durham is competing for the national large town award with Bury St Edmunds, Stafford, Perth, Horsham, Taunton, and Ballymena.

Mayor Eileen Rochford, with Andrew Jackson, the council's grounds maintenance officer and Coun Bell, will attend the national awards ceremony in Aberdeen on Wednesday.