A village has enjoyed double success in this year's Northumbria in Bloom competition.

Middleton-in-Teesdale, in County Durham, was given an award of merit in the Best Large Village section, and the village primary school was runner-up in the section for schools.

Judges praised the village for the way people had got involved in the competition, its cleanliness and for planting flowers in public areas.

Parish councillor Madeleine Sutcliffe, who helped organise the village's entry, said: "It's marvellous really, as we didn't expect to get anything. This is the first time we've entered for several years.

"A lot of villages have been entering for years and have had time to progress, so we're really pleased."

The judges were also impressed with Middleton Primary School's sensory garden, which was given the runner-up prize for a horticultural project within a school setting.

Glenda Calvert, who runs the after-school gardening club, said: "It's predominantly an area for the early years children. They love it, it's an area for young children to discover and explore. It's like an outdoor classroom.