A group of dirty diners have ruined Haworth's chances in Yorkshire in Bloom, claim its organisers.

Judges from Yorkshire in Bloom visited the village on Tuesday to give their summer verdict of Haworth's entry in the competition.

Mike Hutchinson, one of the organisers, said the village's chances of victory were destroyed because of workers from Bront Foods, who used the war memorial as a picnic area at lunch time.

He said: "We have asked them four times to clean up their rubbish. By the time we got down there with the judges they had left all their rubbish. It has blown any chance for the memorial section and village section so it was a double blow."

Gardener Steve Thorpe, who was with the judges, rang the company immediately to reveal his frustration. He said: "The memorial was full of litter and cigarette ends. We had entered the memorial in a separate section and that totally ruined our chances."

But he said the judges had said the park and children's gardening club were a credit to the entry.

Sam Mitchell, trainee manager at Bront Foods, said the company had responded to a complaint that morning. She said: "We did send up one of our representatives after we received some complaints.But all we found were two men on a bench."

She denied employees from the company had jeopardised the village's chances in the competition.

Mrs Mitchell said: "In the past we have had letters from the committee and we have made checks. Unless we can prove that something is actually happening we cannot do something because it is a public area."

l Judging has also taken place on Keighley's entry in Yorkshire in Bloom.

The two judges, Melvyn Riley and Denise Whecrett, cast their eyes over the entry yesterday, examining public areas, business premises and residential gardens.

The pair started their inspection at Cliffe Castle, where they were greeted by representatives from Bradford Council, Keighley Town Council and the two runner-ups of the poster competition, Daniel Walker and Grace Idle.

The judges, who were presented with a glossy brochure, including photographs and posters of the entry, were shown around part of the route in a car, before walking around Town Hall Square and the town centre.

The route included Victoria Park, which had been cleared of a group of travellers and their caravans on Wednesday. Town councillors completed a race against time to clear the site before the judges' inspection.

And last Sunday, a group of more than half a dozen Keighley town councillors -- armed with bin bags -- was out and about tidying litter spots. In the town centre, assistance was given by community service personnel provided by the Probation Service.

Mel Smith, Bradford Council area parks and landscape manager, said the judging "went very well."

He said: "I think the judges were impressed with our entry. They said there was plenty of colour and variety."

Mr Smith said the judges made special comments about Town Hall Square, in which the war memorial has been entered into a separate category, and bus station.

Keighley town councillor David Petyt was pleased with the town council's work behind the campaign. He said: "Keighley Town Council has really got on top of the competition this year. We have added a lot of elements that have not been done in previous years."

Results are due to be announced in September.