Gargrave head gardener Chris Myers has struck gold with his canal and lock design at the BBC Gardeners' World Live show at Birmingham.

The 27-year-old said he was delighted to have won one of three gold medals, and over the moon to learn his garden had been judged the best in show.

"It's been mega hard work, but I'd do it again," he added.

Gargrave man Martin Harrison, who put forward the initial idea for the entry, commented: "When I heard we had got gold and then best in show I was absolutely flabbergasted and over the moon. It's been a great team effort.

"The garden looks fantastic and the public love it."

Mr Harrison formed the Gargrave Germination Group to create the garden and Mr Myers agreed to design the exhibit

Together they came up with the canal idea as the Leeds-Liverpool waterway runs through the village.

The team of 10, including Robert Mason of Carleton and Keith Sharpe, of Bell Busk who went down to build the walls and bridge, worked well into the night to get the basis of the design in place.

"People kept coming around and looking at the design and all said the garden looked fantastic. Even the Royal Horticultural Society bosses were delighted with it and said it lifted the whole profile of the show. They hadn't had a design like this here before," said Mr Myers.

Five lorries transported the building materials and plants to the show and the team had just two weeks to get everything together.

The first week involved creating the main structure, including putting up a metal framework for the bridge and setting out the towpaths. The last few days were dedicated to planting the wildflower meadow and lockkeeper's garden.

But the blood, sweat and tears paid off as the judges found the garden - named Waterscape.com -the best out of 40 exhibitors, including such giants as Tesco, Mercedes and Renault.