13754/4GAZETTE & HERALD: GARDENER Ivy Harrison was overjoyed this week when she learned that her first entry into Chippenham in Bloom had scooped her runner-up prize in the Best Front Garden award.

Mrs Harrison, of Manor Road, was awarded the prize for her colourful display of flowers, grasses and annuals and eye-catching combination of flowerbeds, lawn and gravelled areas.

Despite being a sufferer of Paget's Disease, a bone condition which means she often suffers terrible pain in her knees, Mrs Harrison has continued to lovingly tend her garden for 33 years.

She said she entered the competition, which is sponsored by the Gazette and Herald and Whitehall Garden Centre, on a whim: "A man put a leaflet through my door advertising Chippenham in Bloom a few months ago, and although I'd never entered before I thought it was a lovely idea and would give me the incentive to get out into my garden even more. But I didn't dream that my garden would be good enough to win a prize.

"Depending on how I'm feeling I try to get out in the garden for a couple of hours each week to keep it looking nice, and after entering the competition it really gave me the push to do a little bit more."

It has been a breathtaking year for Chippenham in Bloom veteran Mary Lindsey, of Esmead.

She was over the moon to learn that she had picked up not one, but two awards in the competition the best overall winner and first prize in the last year's winner award category.

"I'm delighted absolutely thrilled," she said. "To win one award is exciting enough, but to win two is brilliant. I can't wait to tell my family!"

She was a winner in last year's competition, but this hasn't been her only success.

Last month, her garden was named the best in North and West Wiltshire in the BBC Points West garden awards, and she won a champagne trip to Hampton Court for reaching the final 12 in a Daily Mail garden competition.

This week Mrs Lindsey also learned she had won the top award in the Small Garden category of the BBC Points West Real Garden contest too.

"I've won lunch with Tommy Walsh at the National Garden Show in Shepton Mallet in September. I've won a tree from Westonbirt Arboretum and also a wonderful trophy and certificates," she said.

"It's made all the hard work worthwhile."

Ray Lane, Chippenham Town Council's head of service delivery: "It's wonderful to have the support of so many people who work hard to contribute to the environment of the town.

"This year's entries have been to a very high standard, but we know there are still so many other people out there who keep wonderful gardens, but haven't up until now entered Chippenham in Bloom.

"I would like to encourage more people to come forward and take part in next year's competition and show off their talent. I'd also like to thank all the businesses who are doing their bit to keep Chippenham beautiful by sponsoring baskets."

Results: Front garden: first, Anne Jones, 29 Esmead; runner-up, Ivy Harrison, 2 Manor Road: container/box garden: first, Mr and Mrs Best, 13 Hither Close; runner-up, Ivy Lane Primary School: residential home/sheltered accommodation: first, Riverhouse, St Mary St; runner-up, Tom Outen, 26 Marlborough Court: pub/hotel: first, The Pheasant, Bath Road; runner-up, The Rowden Arms, Rowden Hill: commercial premises: first, Carter Dutton, St Mary Street; runner-up, Forrester and Forrester, St Mary Street: last year's winners: first, Mary Lindsey, 35 Esmead; runner-up, Chippenham Railway Station.