BRITAIN'S smallest park has been named a category winner in a gardening competition rescued from the brink of cancellation.

The cancellation of Darlington in Bloom had been announced, after a disappointing number of entries.

But, following an outcry from some of those who did enter, organisers from Darlington Borough Council teamed up with The Northern Echo to run a stop-gap form of the competition in a bid to ease gardeners' disappointment.

The votes have now been counted and the winners of the competition have been announced.

For the first time ever, keen gardeners have battled for the floral crown in a virtual world as the competition moved online, giving members of the public chance to vote for their favourite garden. The format has temporarily replaced the more traditional competition, which saw judges visiting local gardens.

It remains to be seen whether the competition will be revived in its traditional format next year, or whether it will continue as an online entity.

Entrants posted photos of their prized gardens on a dedicated Facebook page and voting opened. Votes were also gathered at Crown Street library.

In total all the entries posted on Facebook received more than 2,000 likes.

One of the category winners is Councillor Gerald Lee Park, named after the mayor of Darlington.

It was set up in a small patch of land next to the town's Victoria Road roundabout and won the best community garden category.

The other category winners, who will be invited to an informal awards presentation with Cllr Lee, are:

Best Yard - Hayley Wyse;

Best Individual Garden – Daphne Weerasinghe;

Best Business – Newbus Grange;

Best Alternative Garden, including window boxes/tubs and allotments – Paul Harrison.

Councillor Nick Wallis, the council’s cabinet member for leisure and environment, said: “Congratulations to the winners of the competition and many thanks to those who took the time and trouble to cast their vote.

"The traditional form of Darlington in Bloom ran successfully for many years, to the credit of the volunteers who organised it.

“While I appreciate this version does not take into account expert opinion, it has proved to be a popular stop gap and given recognition for the efforts of local gardeners.”