GARDENERS have picked up certificates for their "fantastic" hard work over the past year.

Truro's recently-won Portman Cup from the South West In Bloom competition was on display as proud award-winners attended a ceremony at the city hall.

Parks' manager Richard Budge was pleased to see "in the region of 150 people" at the awards evening, where Truro City Council and the Truro In Bloom Committee joined forces.

He said: "Horticulture has started to become sexy again, with the gardening programmes and allotments.

"People are starting to grow their own vegetables."

Businesses and schools picked up Truro In Bloom awards while private gardeners and allotment-keepers got awards from the council.

Mrs Palm, the sex shop in Little Castle Street, took second place in the best shop window display category.

Mr Budge said 2011 was a great year for awards in Truro, as the city won the 'cleanest city in Britain' in March and had now won the Portman Cup for best floral town with a population under 19,000. He also thanked St Mary's School in Truro for hosting the South West In Bloom judges and feeding them carrot cupcakes baked from vegetables grown in the school grounds.

Mr Budge said: "The evening was a great success.

"It was fantastic to see the schoolchildren come up and get their prizes.

Results

Gardens and allotments competition: Overall winner – Michael Sanders, Tregolls Manor; outstanding achievement – Mr RP & Mrs JA Oliver; best newcomer – Mrs E Fairley; best overall allotment site – Nancemere Allotments; best overall allotment – Mr Floyd, Allotment Plot 10 Nancemere.

Best-kept garden attended by the disabled – Margaret Dodd; best-kept vegetable garden – Michael Woolcock; best kept communal garden – Michael Sanders, Tregolls Manor.

best business frontage – Michael Sanders; best hanging basket or window shop display – Michael Woolcock.

Best-kept patio garden – Mr R P Oliver and Mrs J A Oliver; best-kept medium–large garden – Mr R P Oliver and Mrs J A Oliver; best-kept small garden – Avril Thomas.

Best overall school – St Mary's School.

Best shop window display – Cornwall Children's Hospice.

School seed tray competition – Cameron Hirst, Year 2 , Archbishop Benson; Georgia Fava, Class 6, Tregolls; Molly Swain, 5, Tregolls; Milly Minahan, 6, Bosvigo; Harvy Mitchell, 8, St Mary's; Harvey Pezzarini, 6, St Mary's.

School painting competition: Lauran Convage, 10, Treyew; Alana Bayer-Tremaynt, Class 8, Bosvigo; Ellie May Wiltshire, 8, St Mary's.

Truro In Bloom local business competition: Best hotel/guesthouse – Bay Tree Guest House; best restaurant – The Arts Café; best public house – William IV; best large store – Malletts Home Hardware; best medium store – Different by Design; best small shop – Seasalt; best office – Miller Countrywide; best bank – HSBC; best shopping arcade – Nalders Court; best dental practice/medical centre – Reid & Gordon Opticians; Portman Building Society Trophy for Outstanding Effort – Bambu Café; Chamber of Commerce Cup for Outstanding Effort – Offices along Walsingham Place.