TRAFFORD residents had a blooming great time at the regional Britain in Bloom awards, as the prizes kept rolling in.

The borough bagged a host of awards - including a gold for Altrincham for the third successive year.

Altrincham has also been chosen to represent the North West region in the national RHS Britain In Bloom competition in 2017 in the Large Towns category.

Sarah Walmsley, the project director of community group Our Altrincham, said: "This is an enormous opportunity to put Altrincham on the map again as a destination town for visitors.

"We were shocked and surprised at first to hear we were selected to represent the North West.

"It is exciting and daunting at the same time."

Our Altrincham began spearheading the 'In Bloom' project in 2014, and since then the town has won a hat-trick of golds as well as a number of other awards.

Sarah added: "The rise of our In Bloom project under community leadership has been pretty meteoric."

She said the judges have been impressed by the close relationship between Our Altrincham and arts centre Art with a Heart.

A number of other community groups and businesses were also celebrating as their floral entries won recognition at the three day awards presentations in Southport.

Altrincham’s John Leigh Park and Friends of Denzell Gardens and the Devisdale received ‘outstanding’ awards.

Altrincham’s Stamford Quarter Shopping Centre and Old Roebuck pub followed this up by winning their second consecutive gold awards. Timperley added to the haul by bagging a silver medal at the event.

The award ceremony was attended by Trafford’s Mayor, Cllr Judith Lloyd and Mayoress, Noelle Ryder, who were delighted with the results.

The Altrincham in Bloom project manages a wide range of initiatives including the town centre planters scheme; transforming the Four Seasons walkway; a 'Food for Thought' project at Shaws Green; and a 'Green Gateway' project. As part of this, a tree stump on land near Station House has been carved into the shape of Altrincham clock tower, with a train coming out of a tunnel.