Halstead has been named top town at the annual Britain in Bloom awards.

Having already scooped the top prize at last month’s Anglia in Bloom awards, the Halstead in Bloom team secured its first ever category win at Saturday’s national ceremony in Guernsey.

The volunteer gardening group, which had only previously won the gold award at that level, saw off the challenges of the likes of Newquay in Cornwall and Linlithgow in Scotland to be crowned overall winner in the town category.

SEE THIS WEEK'S HALSTEAD GAZETTE FOR THE FULL STORY