NOW spring has sprung it is again time for people to dust off their gardening tools and start preparing their 2019 Keighley in Bloom entries.

People or organisations with a garden, yard, plant containers, allotments or a community centre are all welcome to get involved.

A spokesman for the event’s organisers explained: “The competition is free to enter for residents and businesses and allows them to showcase their green fingers, begonias, shrubs or herbaceous borders to our judges.

“This year’s categories are: Best Allotment, Best Private Container, Best Community Centre, Miscellaneous Garden and we have three categories within the Best Private Garden section.

“Big or small we think there’s a category for everyone to enter and showcase their businesses or home along with their gardening knowledge, while making Keighley a better place to work, visit or live.

“The competition is again being managed and run by Keighley in Bloom, which is a voluntary not-for -profit group supported by Keighley Town Council and a number of local businesses.

“We do also use several Keighley in Bloom entrants as part of Keighley’s entry in the Yorkshire in Bloom competition.

“We are really keen to go for gold in the county-wide contest this year, and to continue to challenge Halifax and other towns in the region for category winner.

“Keighley in Bloom’s committee has been busy over the winter reviewing judge’s comments and entrant’s feedback from 2018.

“We want to work with any new community groups or businesses to demonstrate continued improvements in environmental work and community engagement.”

People who would like to to enter can contact Keighley in Bloom on 01535 665600, or e-mail Karin Wojtaszewski at karin@homeandawaytraining.co.uk

The closing date for entries is July 1 and judging will take place on July 19 for the Bronze, Silver and Gold awards, which will be presented on September 28 at the Airedale Shopping Centre.

There are also opportunities for business promotion, as competition organisers are looking for sponsors for the barrier baskets and large prominent planters around the town centre along with the usual hanging baskets.

Businesses interested in offering sponsorship should e-mail Karin (see above) or call Steve Seymour on 078420 11548.