Hawksworth has once again proved it's top of the pots by winning the coveted title of best small village in the Yorkshire in Bloom competition for the second year running.

The village repeated its feat of 1997 by beating the opposition with a clear five-point margin, notching up an excellent 191 out of 200 after the summer judging

session.

Judges praised the 'sheer enthusiasm, hard work and artistic skills' maintained by the village which, they said, was

'totally' involved in the competition.

And they welcomed new schemes which look poised to ensure Hawksworth's

winning ways continue for some years.

"We look forward to seeing the development at Hawksworth Wood as a wild conservation area and the newly-planted shrubs at the frontage of the Methodist Chapel," they remarked.

Milton Booth, chairman of Hawksworth Village Residents' Association, said he was delighted by the success.

"It's wonderful news, I'm really very pleased," he said. "Although we did drop a point this summer compared to the spring judging."

But green-fingered residents won't be resting on their laurels for too long as they bid for an even bigger prize during judging for the national title, taking place today .

Mr Booth said the village would be looking at its best for the judges, including a special centrepiece in the primary school car park which promised to be a colourful feature.

"We will be ready, although we don't plan to set up the display until Thursday morning so we will be working hard," he said.

Hawksworth's Moor Valley Park caravan and camping centre also came in for praise, finishing sixth out of nine entries in its class with 79 points out of 100.

"The entrance was colourful and planted with shrubs and annual bedding plants and the hanging baskets were of good quality," the judges said.

l Less successful was Otley, still

suffering a particularly bad result in the spring judging, which left the town languishing second from bottom in the league of county towns.

Its summer mark was 78 - up five from the spring - pushing the town to ninth place in its category with an total of 151 points.

However, judges praised a concerted effort by organisations to improve its standing, singling out the Chamber of Trade and Commerce for praise. "Encouragement from the Chamber of Trade has produced many more floral displays in the town," they said.

Also highlighted were efforts from sheltered housing sites such as Tealbeck and work by residents at Wilkinson Way.

Town councillor Jennifer Clifton said she was pleased at the result. "I'm delighted they recognised the extra efforts of businesses which were much better with their hanging baskets and the parts of the community which put the effort in."

Coun Clifton also echoed remarks made by the judging panel seeking more community involvement in the competition. "I would really hope for that. We can improve even more," she said.

Colourful entries from The Bay Horse Pub, Market Place, and also Wharfedale General Hospital also impressed judges.

l Bramhope was pipped to the post in the urban communities category of the competition, scoring a total of 80 marks, and lost out only to Wiggington with 82 marks.

The village was praised in the judge's report for the good floral displays, including the Memorial Garden in the centre of the village.

Judges found all the recreational areas to be on the whole well-maintained but the areas designated for wild planting would require careful management.

Pupils at the village school were said to have great scope to develop their wild life garden in the future.

The residential area of 'The Trees' retained its high standard and work on 'The Well' site continued, observed the judges, restoring this historic feature of the village.

The village was also said to be fortunate to have the involvement of an enthusiastic committee.

Bramhope Parish Councillor Fred McHale, chairman of the Amenities Committee said: "I have no complaints - we will just have to keep trying to win it again next year.

"I think the village, at the moment and over the past few weeks, looks absolutely beautiful. I think it looks better now than it did at the time of judging. At least we finished second!"

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.