Shrewsbury has scooped a Gold Award, and will go forward to represent the region in the national heat of the Heart of England in Bloom competition.

The results were announced at a glitzy event in Birmingham.

Shrewsbury swept the board at the awards ceremony, also walking away with the Horticultural Excellence Award for the Dingle and the Landscape Award for Salop Leisure. Heart of England judges visited Shrewsbury in July 2012 when hundreds of floral hanging baskets, planters and containers throughout the town were judged against exacting criteria.

According to Heart of England, its Gold award is given to ‘exceptional achievers who have demonstrated a consistently high standard in all areas of the judging criteria.’

The judges said they were particularly impressed with the standard of Shrewsbury’s town centre floral displays, as well as those at the Castle and the Dingle which were described as having the ‘wow factor.’

The judging panel also highlighted Shrewsbury in Bloom’s links with local groups and schools, as well as the town’s overall rebrand which they said took in ‘the whole community.’

As regional winner, Shrewsbury will now go forward to the national stages of the competition, Britain in Bloom, next year. Councillor Jackie Brennand, Chairman of Shrewsbury in Bloom, said she was delighted with the results, especially considering this year’s challenging weather conditions.

“We have received excellent comments from the judges once again, and are thrilled to receive a Gold award for our floral excellence,” said Councillor Brennand. “Every year we take on board feedback and strive to continually improve.

"This year has been particularly difficult with the impact of austerity measures taking hold, and the effect of the inclement weather conditions which have hampered the plant growth somewhat. To retain our Gold status, and to be going through to the national stages of the competition, is, therefore, a fantastic achievement.”

Helen Ball, Town Clerk added: “So many people work incredibly hard on preparing for Bloom every year and I would like to thank everyone who is involved, not just those who work for Shrewsbury Town Council but also our partners at Shropshire Council who make sure the streets are clean, freshly painted and free of graffiti to add to the overall effect, our businesses who sponsor the traffic islands and purchase hundreds of hanging baskets each year and, of course, our residents.

"Everyone pulls together for the best possible effect and the results speak for themselves. Roll on the nationals!”