THE residents and businesses which brought Evesham success in the Heart of England in Bloom contest received their own reward with the presentation of the annual Evesham in Bloom awards.

The two won a silver gilt in the large town category in the regional awards and there was a special merit award for Hampton scout hut.

Steve Lane of Workman Road, Hampton scooped first prize in the Private Hanging Baskets section, while Orillo in Orleans Close was chosen as the top retail outlet.

Top retail courtyard was won by Hairworks in Port Street and The Almonry in Abbey Road was chosen as the best in the Public Buildings and Places of Worship category.

Rooftop Housing in High Street topped the list in the Banks, Building Societies, Estate Agents and Offices group while the best pub or hotel display award went to the Railway on High Street.

The pub and hotel courtyards prize went to The Royal Oak in Vine Street while the winner of the Cafes, Restaurants and Clubs category was the Ambassador snooker club in Avon Street.

Yates Court in High Street was judged the best retirement home and Weir Meadow topped the list of Caravan Parks.

The That Camera Place special award went to Mrs E Sermon of Morks Walk, Abbey Quay, Bridge Street and the Vecta Best Member Award was won by Weir Meadow Caravan Park.

Private Hanging Baskets: 1 Mr Steve Lane, Workman Road, Hampton; 2 Mr and Mrs D Cross, Hinton-on-the-Green; 3 Mr John Watton, The Pool, Hampton.

Retail Outlets: 1 Orillo, Orleans Close; 2 H & M, Orleans Close; 3 Vale Kitchens, Cheltenham Road; 4 Hampton Post Office, Hampton.

Retail Courtyards: 1 Hairworks, Port Street; 2 Cobwebs, Bridge Street.

Public Buildings and Places of Worship: 1 The Almonry, Abbey Road; 2 St Peter's Church, Port Street; 3 Elim Christian Centre, Mill Street.

Banks, Building Societies, Estate Agents, Offices: 1 Rooftop Housing, High Street; 2 Clement Rabjohns, High Street; 3 Allchurch Bailey, High Street. Highly Commended Clarke Roxburgh; Everatt and Co.

Public Houses and Hotel Fronts: 1 The Railway, High Street; 2 The Royal Oak, Vine Street.

Public Houses and Hotel Courtyards: The Royal Oak, Vine Street.

Caf's Restaurants and Clubs: 1 The Ambassador Snooker Club, Avon Street; 2 Raphael's, Ferry Lane; 3 The Amber Caf, High Street; 4 Hampton Working Men's Club.

Retirement Homes: 1 Yates Court, High Street; 2 Meade Court, Merstow Place; 2 Bewdley Court, Bewdley Street.

Caravan Parks: 1 Weir Meadow; 2 The Ranch, Honeybourne; 3 Hampton Ferry, Ferry Lane.

That Camera Place Special Award: Mrs E Sermon, Monks Walk, Abbey Quay.

Vecta Best Member Award: Weir Meadow Caravan Park.

Schools Awards: 1 The Vale; joint 2 Gold - Saint Richards First, Saint Andrews; 3 Silver - The Acquired Brain Injury Unit (Evesham College); 4 Bronze - Greenhill. Highly commended - St Mary's Catholic, St Egwin's Middle. Commended - Prince Henry's High, Evesham High, Simon de Montfort.