Ilkley is celebrating its status as the most litter-free place in Yorkshire following a prestigious award.

The town finished second in the 1998 Yorkshire In Bloom competition, narrowly missing out to Wetherby in the town category.

Second place is becoming something of a habit - the third year in a row. Wetherby also denied Olicanians top spot in last year's competition.

Following the spring round of judging, Ilkley and Wetherby were neck and neck but last year's winners pulled away to claim a four-point victory after the judges summer visit.

Although the overall prize eluded Ilkley once again, the town's Ilkley in Bloom committee does have something to celebrate.

Ilkley claimed the Wybone Trophy, the Keep Britain Tidy Award. Ilkley in Bloom committee member Patricia Shankley said: "I am delighted with the news. The cleansing department has done a wonderful job in dealing with litter and I would like to thank everybody who has contributed to this result."

Mrs Shankley said the Ilkley In Bloom committee's aim was to maintain a high standard all year round not just to produce an attractive looking town twice a year for the judges.

Ilkley's Kirkwood Residential Home enjoyed another successful year in the public, private and charitable establishments category. The Moorfield Road-based Home missed out on first prize by only a single point. The judges described it as 'again an oasis of colourful flowers and shrubs.' They said it was a pleasure for residents and visitors alike.

The judges heaped praise on the Ilkley committee in their final report.

"Ilkley has an extremely enthusiastic and energetic Ilkley in Bloom committee who are involved in co-ordinating a wide range of operations, varying from tendering for the upkeep of planters, through pressure on the local authority to approach planning in a sympathetic manner, to working closely with the cleansing department to ensure that the best use is made of the increasingly limited resources available."

The new car park planter and the Health Centre garden found favour with the judges as did the input from local charities, including Ilkley Carnival.

The judges did outline an area for improvement, however. "Private gardens were of a very high standard but there could still be more effort made by businesses in the town to support this excellent entry."

Addingham slipped slightly from fifth place in the 1997 competition to seventh in small country town category this time, but the judges still found little to criticise. Indeed, the village was only three points behind third place Dunnington.

The report states: "The residents took obvious pride in their gardens, varying from the formal gardens of High House Mews and the new housing estates to the older cottage gardens."

The village pubs received praise for their colourful displays, the Civic Society's clean-up and tree planting programme was praised, as was the support from the parish council.

More hanging baskets in the Main Street and the improvement of alleyways could ensure greater success next year.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.