The results of this year's Horley In Bloom competition have been announced with organisers praising the number of newcomers entering, and the contest's new photographic competition.

The Horley in Bloom Organising Committee said it was “delighted” at the response to the 19-year-old event's first photographic competition.

And Mike George, chairman of Horley In Bloom, singled out the allotments category, saying it was going “from strength to strength.”

This year’s competition was launched at the Horley town meeting and was as usual split into nine categories, in addition to the photographic contest.

The competition has grown in popularity in recent years with the improved showing of the town in the annual South and South East in Bloom Competition. The Horley in Bloom Committee is keen to maintain the progress of the event.

Mr George said: “We were delighted to see more newcomers entering the competition this year, and our judges were once again extremely impressed with the high quality of the entries.”

He continued: “We were delighted to see so much interest in our new photographic competition with entries from all age ranges, and our judges were particularly impressed with the high standard.  “The allotments competition goes from strength to strength.  “The judges had a difficult choice in both of the categories and congratulate plot holders on the high standard of their plots.”

The winner in the residential front garden category was Peggy Clarke, with second place going to June Ward and Samantha Pizzie highly commended, while first place in the residential back garden category went to Sue Sherwin, with Catherine Robertson and June Ward joint second, and David and Ena Sharratt highly commended.

June Ward won the cottage garden competition, with Ken Greaves second, John Byrne finished first in the flats section, ahead of second-placed John Hay, and the hanging basket/planter section was won by Gary Thomas, with The Farmhouse pub second, and Brian Hawes highly commended.

Horley Infant School finished first in the schools category, with Charlwood Village Infant School second, and Langshott Infant School highly commended.

And Horley Bowling Club took the community section title, with Douglas House second, as Jai Ho (Coppingham Arms) took first in the commercial category, ahead of the Kings Head in second place, with Horley and District Constitutional Club highly commended.

Springwood Guest House won the guest house/bed and breakfast section, with Rosemead Guest House second, and the best newcomer honours went to Catherine Robertson, with Horley Bowling Club and Springwood Guest House joint highly commended.

In the photographic competition, Catherine Robertson  won the adults – plants/hanging basket category with Richard Cantwell second,   Adele Spicer won the Key Stage 4 – plants / hanging baskets contest, Katie Cantwell won the Key Stage 1 – plants / hanging baskets category, Richard Cantwell finished first in the adult – landscape / street scene section, with Jim Williamson second, Katie Cantwell won the Key Stage 1 – landscape / street scene contest, Anna and Rudi Buob won the allotments competition, with Mrs Humphrey and Derek Poole equal second,  and Mr and Mrs Robinson won the best newcomer title, with Mrs and Mrs Condo highly commended.

The Horley In Bloom Awards Evening will be held at Regent Hall, Horley, on Friday, September 27.