GARDENERS across the region have decked their communites with colourful displays for the judges of this year's Northumbria in Bloom competition.

Months of planning and pruning have come to fruition in time for the two specialist judges who have been checking the efforts of schools, pubs, shops, businesses and individuals.

The annual competition sees local authorities vying to win the title, which last year went to Sunderland.

Judging for Northumbria in Bloom will continue until Monday, with visits already made to Sedgefield, which has won the small county town award for the past eight years, and Aycliffe Village, which won the best large village award last year.

Organisers are hoping for similar successes this year, with the chance of national recognition in the Britain in Bloom contest firmly in their sights.

On Tuesday the judges toured Darlington, which picked up the Best City award last year. The borough council is aiming to go one better this year by becoming the overall winner. The town's sights are also firmly set on making a mark in the Britain in Bloom small city category, which will be judged in August.

During their visit the judges were given a full tour of some of Darlington's floral highlights, including the displays along High Row and in the Market Square.

They were joined by The Northern Echo editor Peter Barron, council head gardener Mark Riddle and the town's Britain in Bloom organiser Michelle Parkes.

Mr Riddle and his team produce thousands of hanging baskets and bedding plants for the town's entry, and thousands more for other local authorities around the country.

But Mr Riddle, who has helped the town to pick up a string of medals at the Chelsea Flower Show in recent years, said his loyalty lay with Darlington.

"This year the town is looking better than ever. There is nowhere in Darlington that I would be worried about showing the judges," he said.