Colchester wins gold medal at the Anglia in Bloom awards. (From Essex County Standard)

Colchester wins gold medal at the Anglia in Bloom awards.

4:19pm Wednesday 12th September 2012 in News By James Calnan

COLCHESTER won a gold medal at the Anglia in Bloom awards.

The team took home the title for best town with a population between 100,000 and 200,000.

Dave Harris, Colchester in Bloom secretary, said the group was over the moon to get the award at the ceremony in St Ives, Cambridgeshire.

He said: “It is all the work of the communities, businesses, residents’ associations, individuals, volunteers, allotment holders and everybody who get involved.”

Halstead topped the leaderboard and won the overall Anglia in Bloom trophy, alongside the best town award.

More than 30 volunteers have been working on this year’s Majestic Britain theme.

Julia Smith, Halstead in Bloom secretary, said: “It is excellent news and a tremendous tribute to all the hard work that has been done by the partnership.

“This was a massive shock to us. We were thrilled to get the gold standard, but to have the best overall entry is absolutely fantastic.”

Villagers from Fordham were celebrating being named best newcomer and picking up a silver award in the small village category.

Barbara Jones, chairman of Fordham in Bloom, said: “We’ve only been doing this since March and we had a wonderful group of people who are really enthusiastic.

“It’s been absolutely wonderful.”

The small village category also saw Wormingford pick up a bronze, while Plume School vocational project in Maldon won the best garden for special needs category.

Projects in Frinton and Halstead also picked up a host of nominations for various categories, as did Colchester’s Castle Park and Lexden Springs Nature Reserve.

Bob Ollier, chairman of Anglia in Bloom, said communities had created “astonishing” displays despite this year’s hosepipe ban and record rainfall.