CITIES, towns and villages across the region are celebrating after impressing judges as this year's RHS Britain in Bloom winners are announced.

The city of Durham was awarded a gold medal in the prestigious Champion of Champions category, narrowly missing out on winning the top title to the Scottish city of Perth.

Durham impressed with its 3D floral displays, including a Bishop’s Mitre, and three St Cuthbert’s crosses, “excellent” Wharton Park community garden and pollinator-friendly roundabout plantings.

The judges also praised the city’s commitment to helping a new generation of gardeners gain horticultural skills and qualifications, with volunteer Ron Potter and his work to get school pupils food growing singled out for a Community Champion award.

Market town Morpeth, Sedgefield and former mining village Tanfield also scooped gold medals for their impressive entries.

In addition, Tanfield won the Wild About Gardens award for its efforts to encourage wildlife including through pollen and nectar-rich planting and the installation of bat boxes and hedgehog shelters.

Committee member Alan Whitfield said, "Our theme, ‘Plan B’ focused on attracting and sustaining important species (Birds, Bats, Bees and Butterflies) and involved growing plants and flowers to entice these creatures and provide homes and shelters throughout the village to protect them."

Colin Thompson, Chair of the Tanfield in Bloom Committee said, “We like to think we have put Tanfield Village on the map. Our whole group are very proud of what has been achieved over a relatively short period of time and how much we have improved the community we live.”

And Yorkshire’s community gardeners are celebrating after walking away with a category win and haul of medals.

Victorian spa town Harrogate picked up a gold in the small city category for its bedding and basket displays, including “jewel in the crown” Valley Gardens.

Whitby picked up gold in the coastal category while Saltburn received a silver gilt award.

Darren Share, Chair of the RHS Britain in Bloom judges, said: “Congratulations to all of this year’s UK finalists. It’s incredibly humbling to hear about the huge efforts they’ve invested in making our villages, towns and cities greener places to live, work and visit.

“This makes a tremendous difference locally but has a wider impact too. Gardeners are increasingly having to respond to the changing climate, declining pollinator numbers and plastic waste and more communities are galvanizing people around these issues to bring about positive change.”

The full results are available here.