Great garden competition

Grow for gold - that's the call to Middlesbrough's gardeners with the launch of a new town-wide challenge.

Middlesbrough Mayor Andy Preston has launched the town's first ever Great Garden Competition.

He's urging growers, hoers, waterers and weeders from every corner of the Boro to bring their prize plots up to scratch in the hunt for prizes.

Entries are now open, with gardeners invited to submit pictures of their creations.

A judging panel - including the Mayor and Deputy Mayor, the council's Director of Environment and Community Services, and community groups - will award prizes in five categories:

• Best individual garden
• Best community green initiative
• Best garden used to grow produce
• Best young gardener
• Best gardening group

Entries will close in June, with finalists and winners due to be announced later in the month.

Middlesbrough Mayor Andy Preston said: "It's all too easy to take our gardens for granted, but a great one can transform an entire neighbourhood.

"They add a splash of colour in the community, give the owner an amazing sense of pride and achievement and are great for our mental health.

"They're a real expression of the gardener's personality, and can even be a source of cheap and healthy fruit and veg.

"So I'm calling on as many people as possible to sign up, tell us what their garden looks like now and what they plan to do with it.

"Send us pictures and we'll share the best ones online - I can't wait to meet the winners and visit their creations."

For more information email greatgardencompetition@middlesbrough.gov.uk.