Tenants of Bradford's biggest landlord were rewarded for their efforts to improve their properties and neighbourhoods at a glitzy awards ceremony last night.

The event, at the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television in Bradford, was attended by celebrity weatherman Ian McGaskill.

More than 200 tenants entered the Home and Gardens Awards 2005, organised by Bradford Community Housing Trust (BCHT).

There were 11 categories for awards including best communal garden, best floral display and best-kept garden. A new category this year was best room make-over, sponsored by the Telegraph & Argus.

The winner of the best communal garden section was 76-year-old Margaret Hartley, of Sutton Avenue, Bradford, who tends the communal gardens of four flats where she lives.

She said: "I have loved gardening all my life and I have always looked after these gardens.

"I have never entered the competition before but people kept saying how lovely the garden looked so I thought I would go for it. I am thrilled."

Best room makeover winner Karen Matthews only entered the section because renovation work meant she could not go for the gardening competition.

Karen, 48, of Bolton Bridge Road, Ilkley, took first prize in the gardening section last year and had wanted to defend her title. But Karen, warden at the Bolton Bridge Court sheltered housing complex, was unable to do so because of structural work in the grounds. Instead she entered the makeover category because she was determined to transform her home.

She said: "I did it because I live there and I couldn't stand living with the kitchen I had.

"It had the original units in from when it was built more than 20 years ago and I wanted to give it a complete makeover.

"I've turned it into a modern-style kitchen with beech units, stainless steel long-handled taps and black glass tops."

Martin Smith, chairman of the BCHT group, said: "The quality of the entries has been outstanding. It shows the pride people have in their, gardens, homes and neighbourhoods."

There were also prizes for top home and garden designs created by children aged five to ten and young people aged 11 to 16.

The awards are held to encourage tenants to take pride in their properties and make improvements.

Prizes included gardening vouchers, a digital camera, a Nintendo DS game console and an iPod mini music player.

Ian Simpson, executive director of Bradford West City Community Housing Trust, who organised the event, said: "The competition has been another big success and I would like to thank everyone who sent in entries. "