MEMBERS of the Ilkley in Bloom committee listened in earnest as the four towns they were competing against were all granted coveted silver awards.

Ilkley in Bloom chairman Tony Gilroy and Deputy Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Choudhary Rangzeb, waited at the stage at the glittering awards ceremony at Leeds' Royal Armouries Museum, unaware they were about to be given two causes for major celebration.

Earlier this year, Mr Gilroy had said the town would be happy to settle for a silver award, whether or not it won the contest.

But when Ilkley's results were finally announced at the Britain In Bloom awards ceremony on Thursday, there was double joy.

Not only had Ilkley taken the coveted top slot in the Town category it had also gained a prestigious gold award signifying it had achieved among the highest standards of excellence as recognised by In Bloom judges.

Ilkley's victory is a reward for a hands-on 12 months of planning and work on behalf of the Ilkley community, and will also serve as a high note for Mr Gilroy, who is about to bow out of his five-year role as Ilkley in Bloom chairman.

"It feels fantastic, it really does. I didn't think in my wildest dreams we'd get a gold," he said. "I've been walking through Ilkley and seen lots of people who said 'brilliant, well done' to me."

A record number of Gold Awards were presented to Britain in Bloom UK finalists at the annual awards presentation, by organic gardener Bob Flowerdew and Royal Horticultural Society director general Andrew Colquhoun.

The Royal Horticultural Society said the increase in gold awards presented reflected the overall increase in the quality of entries all striving for lasting improvements within their local environments.

Fresh from its success in the Town section of Yorkshire in Bloom last year, Ilkley found itself up against Market Harborough in Leicestershire, Dungannon in Northern Ireland, Hexham in Northumberland and Nantwich in Cheshire in this year's national Britain In Bloom contest.

The two knowledgeable judges both with many years of horticultural experience, visited Ilkley on Friday, August 6.

They came into town by train, and were met with a sunny, summery town in the middle of the Ilkley Summer Festival.

The judges said they were impressed by the level of support from throughout the community, and the quality of the portfolio presented to them by volunteer group Ilkley in Bloom at a florally-adorned Ilkley Town Hall before the judging tour began.

Planning for the competition began around a year ago, and various meetings were later held with businesses and organisations from around the town, who pledged their support in many ways.

Mr Gilroy thanked everyone in the town who has played their part in winning for Ilkley. In particular, he thanked the various departments of Bradford Council who worked hard to keep Ilkley clean and green, and the Darwin Gardens Millennium Green project, which was singled out for praise in its own right by the Britain in Bloom judges.

He said those who care for the sensory garden on The Grove, and the Bandstand committee, among many other local people, all played their part.

"There's lots and lots of people in Ilkley who have helped through the whole period, really," said Mr Gilroy.

Ilkley is not thought to have taken a national In Bloom award for more than a decade.

It was assessed on its floral displays, permanent landscaping, sustainable development, local environment quality and public awareness of the In Bloom campaign all of which impressed the judges. Ilkley in Bloom will come back down to earth as it begins its planning shortly for its efforts for the hard-fought Yorkshire in Bloom contest, which it returns to in 2005.