Green-fingered enthusiasts in Ilkley in Addingham are celebrating after winning top spots in the Spring Yorkshire In Bloom competition.

Ilkley in Bloom's colourful array of displays earned it first place in the Town category, with 180 points, just pipping Ripon, which was awarded 177 points, to the floral post.

Addingham, meanwhile, enjoyed a remarkable recovery from last year's disastrous last placing, taking third spot in the Small Country Town class.

The competition judges, who carried out their inspections at the beginning of April, praised Ilkley for providing an impressive "blaze of colour" which was complemented by "glorious spring weather."

They also singled out its work with local businesses for special mention, along with the success of its mass, pre-judging tidy-up of the town centre.

They said: "The professionalism and expertise within the Ilkley in Bloom committee must be commended, and they must be congratulated for a superb entry.

"They raised the profile of the competition with numerous banners and posters, and also demonstrated their keen involvement to be part of a range of projects to improve the environment and landscape planting around the town.

"The entrance to Riverside Gardens, The Bandstand planting and Darwin Gardens were good examples of this commitment."

Ilkley's bid overcame two vandalism attacks to win through, and In Bloom chairman Tony Gilroy said that kind of resilience would serve the town well while preparing for the summer judging.

He said: "I thought we would do okay but we are delighted to have won, which is an improvement on last year when we took third place. I was also very pleased to hear how well Addingham had done.

"We had a lot to show in Ilkley this year and there were a number of new things, like the Bandstand display, which the judges liked because they showed we were committed to pushing things forward.

"We have a lot to live up to now in the summer, but if we can just hold Ripon at bay we will be in the running to take part in the national competition next year."

After hitting rock bottom last spring, Addingham in Bloom was disbanded and responsibility handed over to a new group, Addingham Garden Friends.

They immediately improved things for the 2001 summer judging, and were congratulated this time around for "working hard to present Addingham at its best".

The gardens at High House Mews were singled out for praise, as was the efforts of local children who had created and displayed competition posters around the village.

The judges concluded: "The committee's effort of assisting the Parish Council and other groups has paid off, and in this way the group's influence extends throughout the village.

"The new Ash Tip nature area and millpond will provide additional facilities for residents and enhance their entry - well done to the new group!"

Chairman Alan Haigh said the whole village had contributed to the success.

He said: "We are very pleased to reach third place, which, after coming bottom last spring, is a major improvement.

"We're now hoping to recruit more volunteers to help out with planting and watering for the summer judging, which we did quite well in last year.

"We're also trying to get more of the village's businesses involved, and with their help we can do even better this time."

Addingham Parish Council chairman Gordon Campbell also hailed the turnabout in fortunes.

He said: "This is really good news for the village in that it reflects the enormous amount of work the new committee have put in to improve things."