KINGSBRIDGE hosted two regional judges from South West in Bloom last Friday to assess the town's preparation.

After months of planning, planting and clearing, the Kingsbridge In Bloom team welcomed Royal Horticultural Society judges Kim Parish and Jane Pagano from South West in Bloom.

The judges were given a two-hour tour of the town to assess the team's efforts against a strict set of criteria. The results will be announced at the Dartmouth Britannia Royal Naval Awards Ceremony at the end of September.

This was the first of two assessments that Kingsbridge will undergo; the next, for the National Britain in Bloom finals, will take place on Monday, August 3, when two national judges will visit for two and a half hours.

'The Kingsbridge In Bloom team, along with South Hams Council, will be out in force to prepare the town for this ­prestigious competition,' said KIB chair Graham Price. 'We would ask if people could help our campaign by keeping the area around their properties tidy and weed-free.

'Many people don't realise that there's no longer a commitment by local authorities to remove weeds from highways and many open spaces.'

The team at Kingsbridge Fire Station worked with KIB and Safe South West to create a safety message in flowers on the roundabout at the bottom of Fore Street, stating: 'Don't use your mobile and drive.'

Kingsbridge Fire Station commander Gerald Taylor said: 'A big thanks to the Safe South West charity for the money and the Kingsbridge In Bloom team for its ­dedication for helping us to say a very important message in flowers.

'Analysis of our social media data shows that over 17,000 people have so far read the message "Don't use your mobile and drive".'

RHS Britain in Bloom is a nationwide community gardening campaign that aims to transform cities, towns and villages. It has been helping people to improve their local environments since 1964.