VILLAGES, towns, schools and organisations across the district have triumphed at the annual Yorkshire in Bloom competition with a flurry of gold awards.

Key locations to win gold were Otley and Keighley, with Otley being crowned the overall winner in the town category.

In addition Keighley and Worth Valley Railway, Lister Park in Bradford, Oakwell Hall Country Park in Birstall, Red House Museum in Gomersal and Holden Park in Keighley, have also received the coveted gold award in their respective categories.

Education establishments Pudsey Lowtown Primary School and the University of Bradford also scooped gold, the fourth time in a row for the university. The school, which topped the Young People's Award category, was praised for pupils' enthusiasm in and knowledge of the crops they are growing and the wildlife in the school grounds.

Harold Park in Bradford also took home the highest platinum award in the open spaces category, a growing category with the the number of entries increasing this year by 100 per cent.

Judges commended the community involvement, the interpretation around the park explaining the different features, and the wide variety of facilities in the park.

Judges also heaped praise on gardeners efforts with gold winners Otley and Horsforth receiving mention for their enthusiasm and feeling of community respectively.

Lister Park maintained its gold status and was described by judges as a "green urban oasis" which "continues to move with the times and shows good use of perennial planting with a high level of maintenance".

Meanwhile Mount Pleasant Boarding Kennels and Cattery in Keighley received gold and was a joint overall winner in the small business category.

Another notable success in the district is Thornton which entered the large village category. Local organisers hoped to improve on last year's silver award in memory of former group chairman, long-serving former councillor Valerie Binney, who died last summer. This year's hard work has paid off and it achieved a silver gilt award.

Councillor Imran Khan, Bradford Council's executive member for the environment and sport, said: "It is fantastic news that once more so many places in our beautiful district have picked up awards in Yorkshire in Bloom

"There is so much hard work that goes into all the displays with Council departments working with residents and friends of group to try and keep the district looking its best.

"I want to congratulate all the places and people who received the well deserved awards - well done."

A spokesman for the award organisers said: "Keeping Yorkshire looking good is no easy task and it is thanks to the many volunteer groups and businesses that take part in the annual Yorkshire in Bloom competition that help to keep Yorkshire’s towns, villages, coastal resorts, cities, local communities and schools looking great."

Over the summer around 50 volunteer judges have been visiting the groups involved and the results were announced today at a ceremony in York.

Work is already under way to plan the 2016 competition. If you are part of a community group and would like to be involved in Yorkshire in Bloom, visit yorkshireinbloom.co.uk.

LOCAL WINNERS

Small village: Esholt, silver gilt.

Village: Grassington, silver gilt.

Large village: Thornton, silver gilt.

Urban community: Calverley, silver gilt.

Small town: Haworth, silver; Menston, silver.

Town: Horsforth, gold; Ilkley, silver gilt; Otley, gold (category winner).

Small city: Keighley, silver gilt.

Public, private and charitable establishments: Abbeydale Residential Home, Ilkley, gold; Airedale General Hospital, Keighley, silver gilt; Hive, Shipley, silver; Northcliffe Environmental Enterprises Team (NEET), Shipley, gold; The Old Bell Chapel, Thornton, Bradford, silver gilt; Undercliffe Cemetery, Bradford, silver.

Public houses and restaurants: The Stansfield Arms, Bradford, silver gilt.

Visitor attractions: Keighley & Worth Valley Railway, Keighley, gold; Oakworth Station, Keighley, silver gilt.

Small business: Mount Pleasant Boarding Kennels and Cattery, Keighley, gold (joint category winner).

Shopping centres and retail parks: Airedale Shopping Centre, Keighley, silver gilt.

Country houses, estates, parks and gardens: Lister Park, Bradford, gold; Oakwell Hall Country Park, Birstall, gold; Red House Museum, Gomersal, gold.

Open spaces - friends of groups for parks, small spaces, churchyards: Harold Park, Bradford, platinum; Holden Park, Keighley, gold.

RHS It’s Your Neighbourhood: Cottingley in Bloom, Bradford, developing; Friends of Brighouse Station, Brighouse , developing; Holme Wood Executive 'Grow Your Own', Bradford, outstanding; Incredible Edible Brighouse, developing; Northcliffe Allotment Society, Bradford, outstanding.

Harrogate Flower Show young people's award: Carr Green School , Brighouse, silver gilt; Haworth Primary School gardening club, silver gilt; Parkside Primary, Bradford, silver gilt; Pudsey Lowtown Primary School, gold (category winner); St Joseph's Primary School, Brighouse, silver gilt; The Whartons Primary School, Otley, silver gilt.

Universities, colleges and educational establishments: University of Bradford, gold.