STUNNED organisers of Wisbech in Bloom were returning home tonight from Gorleston after achieving spectacular success as a major winner in the Anglia in Bloom competition. The town beat off competition that included Bury St Edmunds, Ely, Newmarket, St Neo

STUNNED organisers of Wisbech in Bloom were returning home tonight from Gorleston after achieving spectacular success as a major winner in the Anglia in Bloom competition.

The town beat off competition that included Bury St Edmunds, Ely, Newmarket, St Neots, Kings Lynn, St Ives and Ware to be acclaimed overall winner - and gold award winner - in the large town category.

It was an extraordinary result for the town which has not only invested heavily in making Wisbech sing with colour this summer but has also captured the imagination of the entire population of the Fenland town.

Not only did Wisbech win top honours in the competition but they also won a special award for the most improved entry, and then went onto be nominated for its veggie plot project in the 'grown your own award' and collect a nomination for best local authority floral display for St Peter's Church Gardens and Wisbech Park.

But it was winning the large town category that filled the organisers were most pride as Wisbech was up against some formidable opposition, notably past winner Bury St Edmunds.

The Wisbech In Bloom Group comprises of about ten volunteers and has the co-operation and partnership of Mr Bob Ollier-Parks and Open Spaces Manager, Fenland District Council, and Continental Landscapes.

Indeed what a long way Wisbech has come! A few years ago when Mr Ollier took up his post he began the task, with various groups, of making the town a colourful and pleasant environment to live and work in.

Now the hard work has paid off and Wisbech is the proud winner of the East Anglia In Bloom Award for Large Town and Most Improved Award.

A few years ago Wisbech Park was almost a 'no go' area, with glass all over the children's playground and paths that were uneven, overgrown shrubbery and litter everywhere, basically not a nice place at all.

Bob said: "I was looking for a challenge, and found a huge one here to get my teeth into, it's been a lot of work and is on-going," he said. "But I enjoy every moment, and there are plans in the pipeline to make the area even more community friendly with exciting new ideas to bring even more people in here."

Councillor David Oliver, Leader of the Town Council, said: "The effort this year put in by all involved has been the best yet. Everyone is to be congratulated".

The Wisbech Standard and Cambs Times will be celebrating the award in a special 8 page supplement - Wisbech and Proud of It- out on Friday.

There will also be pictures of last week's success by Chatteris in Bloom in the Cambridgeshire Community Awards. Chatteris in Bloom also won silver gilt in this year's Anglia in Bloom in the category of towns with a population of between 6,000 and 12,000.