BEXLEY’S back gardens are the pride of the borough, if the Bexley in Bloom competition is anything to go by.

The back garden category had more entries than any of the others in this year’s event.

More than 200 homes and businesses went in for the competition, with business entries up on previous years.

The coveted trophy for the best back garden went to Rosemarie Raymond of Tavistock Road, Welling, who also won the top prize for her front seasonal and container planting.

Another double winner was David Sleat of Hayley House sheltered housing scheme, Wadeville Close, Belvedere.

He picked up prizes for the best shared garden and was also given the London Gardens Society award of excellence.

The business and public premises category was won by Europa Worldwide Logistics in Hailey Road, Erith.

This was sponsored by News Shopper and Europa won a full-page company profile in the newspaper.Other winners were Lesley Brown of Charles Close, Sidcup, who was judged the best first-time entrant; Vialeta (corr) Turner of Broadway, Bexleyheath, won the special achievement award; Sylvia Colegate of Old Road, Crayford, won the wildlife category; Penny Symonds of Iverhurst Close, Bexleyheath, won best permanent planting; Gerry Hockley of the Alers Road, Bexleyheath, allotments, won best allotment plot; Beth Paton from the Harland Avenue, Sidcup, allotments won best children’s plot and the Orchard allotments in Barnehurst won the best allotment category.

The top three in each category, apart from Europa, won Ruxley Manor Garden Centre vouchers and received a London in Bloom certificate.

The trophies were presented by Bexley mayor, Councillor Val Clark, at an awards ceremony held at Hurstmere School in Hurst Road, Sidcup.