A TINY village has beaten the best in Britain to win the country’s most coveted horticultural award.

Stanghow, a windswept east Cleveland village on the edge of the North Yorks Moors, last night struck gold at the Britain In Bloom awards and was named joint winner of the small village category.

Organisers of Stanghow’s bid said that nearly every one of the village’s 125 residents was either directly involved in the Britain In Bloom group or maintaining their own gorgeous front gardens.

Now, having twice won gold at the Northumbria In Bloom awards, the green-fingered villagers repeated the feat on the national stage when the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) awards were announced at the Centennial Centre, in Birmingham, last night.

Sunderland won one of the most high-profile awards, beating Leeds and Bristol to be named winner of the large city category.

RHS judges praised Sunderland’s recent improvements, saying: “This former industrial city, which lies between sea and countryside, has made great progress in improving its image. Sunderland has numerous green spaces and parks which have good tree cover and mixed plantings.”

Further down the coast, gold-medal winning Scarborough was named the best coastal community with a population of 12,000 or above.

Nearby Cayton, which made international headlines earlier in the summer when a mystery saboteur poured weedkiller onto flower beds, recovered to be awarded a silver gilt in the large village category.

Harrogate, Eston and Hunmanby also won silver gilt in their respective categories of champion of champions, urban community and small town.

Meanwhile, two County Durham communities were celebrating winning silver in their categories.

Durham City won silver for the third time in four years in the large town or small city category, while Sedgefield was competing in the small town category.

Terry Collins, corporate director for neighbourhoods with Durham County Council, said: “I am absolutely delighted that the hard work of both the council’s Streetscene staff, and the many voluntary groups and organisations they work with, has received this wonderful recognition.

“I would like to issue a big thank you to everyone who has helped in this year’s campaign and say very well done indeed.”