JUDGES from Yorkshire in Bloom were greeted with the sun shining and birds singing when they came to inspect the area last week.

Melvyn Reiley and John Clayton were conducting the spring judging for the competition.

And for more than one and a half hours they were shown public parks, private residential gardens and allotments in a whistle stop tour, aimed at showing them exactly why Otley deserved to be named Yorkshire in Bloom town of the year.

The main features judges were looking at were public areas, such as the overall impression of the town centre and the maintenance of features They also assessed private endeavour and work by voluntary groups, churches and residents.

The other categories were businesses, including tourist attractions, public houses and hotels, and environmental quality which took into account factors such as recycling, water conservation and dog fouling.

Escorting and answering questions was Otley Mayor Phil Coyne, along with members of the Otley in Bloom steering group, officers from Leeds City Council and Otley and Wharfedale Community Involv-ement Team members.

Sylvia Reid, secretary of Otley in Bloom, said: "We've been through a hard few years.

"Two to three years ago there was only three people whereas now we have a steering group of twelve.

"What we want is people to enjoy looking after their environment and have fun doing different projects."

Last year Otley was placed tenth out of 13 in the town section, after picking up in the summer round of judging, and this year hopes are high that the town will improve on its standing in the competition.

The judges were shown as much as the town as possible from Todds Allotments, the HSBC triangle and residential garden at Linfoot Court, to the Weston Drive Community Garden and Wharfemeadows Park.

Mrs Reid, who led the group around, said: "I think it's going very well, and the different places we've shown the judges look wonderful, and in the sun doubly wonderful.

"I thoroughly enjoyed it but the end result isn't important if people who have taken part think the town looks attractive that's great."

Judge, Mr Reiley said: "We concentrate the judging in Spring to finding out what volunteers and the town council do, and how they do it together.

"If you have an attractive environment, people will come to look at it, so the economy will improve."

Other villages in the area being judged are Bramhope and Guiseley, in the urban communities category and Hawksworth for the small village category.

In Bramhope, the judges were also treated to warm and sunny weather on their visit to the village on Thursday last week.

They went from Old Lane into Church Hill, across to the Holiday Inn and the Puritan Chapel and down through Creskelds.

They then went onto Kings Road where the new gardens project is taking place and then along to Golden Acre Park, which Bramhope shares with Adel. Judges were then taken back into the residential area to the Birches, The Cedars, Breary Lane East, past The Parade and up to the Memorial Gardens and The Cross.

Parish Councillor David Marshall said the weather had been particularly kind while the judges were in the village.

"Last year we had to walk around in a snow flurry.

"Because it has been so very mild recently, most of the daffodils and other spring bulbs were out in glorious colour and the village looked particularly good."

He said the judges, David Ellcock, from Bradford Parks Department, and Ron Fry, from Harrogate, said that the village looked excellent and were particularly impressed with Golden Acre Park.

He added: "The summer judging is the main event though and we have had a number of volunteers throughout the village who will very shortly be getting involved with all sorts of minor projects to ensure that Bramhope looks its best in the coming months and for the next judging."