TOP judge for Anglia in Bloom, George Dawson, visited Wisbech to help award marks for the months of hard work which has helped transform the town. And the man to impress in the bid for gold was given a special insight into work on the Freedom Bridge round

TOP judge for Anglia in Bloom, George Dawson, visited Wisbech to help award marks for the months of hard work which has helped transform the town.

And the man to impress in the bid for gold was given a special insight into work on the Freedom Bridge roundabout by two rabbits!

Rabbits, Bright Eyes and Big Wig left their homes on the roundabout to explain how recent work had given them a better life and make the town more attractive.

Mr Dawson and fellow judge Bob Hardwick, were welcomed by Mayor Councillor David Oliver, at Peckover House.

The judges were accompanied on a tour of the town by Bob Ollier, Fenland District Council's Parks and Open Spaces Manager, and Alan Sherfield, chairman of Wisbech in Bloom.

Mr Dawson is chairman of the 20 judges who spend the last three weeks in July visiting carrying out their inspections. This year there are 67 entries from towns in the Anglia region.

After being associated with the competition for 24 years, Mr Dawson said: "Standards are definitely going up. Wherever we go we try to give encouragement because once a town is involved there are lots of benefits. It is not just about flowers, it involves the community working together and making a better place for people to live in."

In St Peter's Church gardens the judges were shown work undertaken in the last year creating a cottage style garden with herbaceous borders and climbing roses in front of a wall. Mr Ollier said the area had previously been overgrown but had attracted favourable comments during the recent Rose Fair.

Mr Sherfield said the town was hoping for gold this year and had extended planting in a bid to impress the judges.