KINGSBRIDGE in Bloom has come away from the national finals with its highest accolade to date.

Having won five golds and the Champion of Champions award, Kingsbridge was entered into the Small Town category of the nationals and came away with another gold.

Kingsbridge was up against six others in the category and was one of only two to win a gold, narrowly missing out to Ahoghill in Ulster, which emerged as the category winner.

One of seven places representing the south west, as well as Dartmouth in the Coastal Town category, which also won gold, Kingsbridge was up against some stiff competition.

Talking about the awards evening, KIB chairman Graham Price said: ‘We all cheered each other in the south west. It was a spectacular venue and we were piped in by a pipe band. When Jenny Hayden and I were ­waiting to go on stage there was a lot of nervous tension.’

Judges’ comments included ‘high standards and sensitive horticulture’; ‘town square was most impressive’; ‘Kingsbridge Community Garden is a remarkable effort’; and ‘business involvement is high – the Creek’s End was especially notable’.

Only five members of the KIB team were able to attend the awards ceremony at Rainton Meadows Arena in Sunderland to receive the certificate, but it was a team of 20-plus volunteers that made Kingsbridge the award-winning town it is.

‘We do it for Kingsbridge,’ continued Graham. ‘We do it for the town and people have really embraced it – we’re lucky to have a great community and team of volunteers.’

People rushed to congratulate the team, with local residents John and Penny Dodwell saying: ‘Well done every one of you, you certainly deserve the gold. Fantastic effort – thank you so much for making Kingsbridge so beautiful.’

Kingsbridge deputy mayor Jax Williams said: ‘Truly superb. All the hard work and last-minute stresses have paid off.

‘You and your team are so dedicated and show Kings-bridge residents and visitors how a town can look by people caring enough to devote their precious time to such a worthwhile project for us all to enjoy.’