THE GORGEOUS gardens of Ilkley have been commended by Ilkley in Bloom in the annual local gardens competition.

The four categories of Private House Garden Visible from the Road, Residential Care Home Gardens, Commercial Premises Gardens and Best Florally Decorated Hostelry were recently judged by four independent judging teams. The competition is run each summer by Ilkley in Bloom, the community group which is spearheading Ilkley's entry in the national Britain in Bloom contest this year.

Keen Colbert Avenue gardener Cath Birch took first prize in the private house section for the second year running and has won the contest previously. The private house section gives green-fingered residents a chance for recognition.

"It's my hobby. If there wasn't the competition I'd still keep doing it," said Mrs Birch.

She tries out different ideas every year. She says her entry last year was virtually last-minute as she had had an extension to the house completed not long before the judging, leaving one wall as a 'blank canvas'. But this year she has put out terracotta pots, baskets and made an extra floral effort - and once again gained the top award.

Second-placed in the category was Ian Adams of Parish Ghyll Drive and in third place was Westville Close on Westville Road, thanks to the efforts of Marian Palmer and residents.

"All the entries were a wonderful sample of Ilkley's gardens in all their diversity and each demonstrated their owner's love of gardening," said the judges.

"The winner was a well-balanced garden bursting with different plants shown to their best advantage - scale, colour, variety and mixture of perennials, shrubs, trees and annuals, just right!"

New bar and restaurant The Yard, off Brook Street, was the winner of the Best Florally Decorated Hostelry Class, with a Mediterranean effect in its outdoor area. The bar has been open for just six months.

Joint owner of the bar, Tim Keeling, said the potential of the garden area was one of the main reasons for taking on and developing the building.

"I'm delighted," he said. "It was a wasteland basically before. We converted it into a beer garden with a balcony, we've got a lot of troughs and colour. It's very secluded down the bottom as well."

Nearby neighbour The Crescent Hotel took second place and The Riverside Hotel gained third place. Judges said they were impressed by the good use of planting and available display space with the two runners-up. The Star and The Midland were commended for their efforts in this section, and the Cow and Calf Hotel caught the judge's eye with its lawned beer garden and all-year planting.

Judges were faced with a difficult decision in the Residential Care Home category - eventually opting for The Troutbeck nursing home on Crossbeck Road, just ahead of Abbeydale Residential Home on Grove Road. Rosegarth was in third place and Straven House was commended.

The commercial premises title was taken by Optident Ltd of Valley Drive for 'interesting and well-kept' gardens. Booth's supermarket on Leeds Road gained second spot for its grounds and the third prize went to Harbour Lights fish and chip shop for maintaining their planting on a draughty corner of Leeds Road.

Ilkley in Bloom chairman, Tony Gilroy, thanked all those who entered the competition and keep Ilkley looking so good.

He said: "In all they provide colour and interest for the town of Ilkley and their efforts and much appreciated and enjoyed by us all. As an added bonus we will have some splendid gardens to show the national Britain in Bloom judges when they visit on Friday August 6.

l Home-grown musicians are being sought to add to Ilkley's charm on the official Britain in Bloom judging day. Mr Gilroy is appealing for any musicians or singing groups to play or perform on the Ilkley Bandstand on August 6, when the judges are touring the town. He says many local bands and choirs are already committed to performances elsewhere on the day - including the Grassington Festival - and he is running out of performers to ask. Members of many youth musical groups are believed to be away on holiday on the day. Anyone who can help is asked to telephone Mr Gilroy on (01943) 609077.