GREEN-FINGERED Magna Housing tenants are celebrating after scooping prizes in an annual competition.

Brian and Gwen Wills from the Dorchester Horticultural Society took to the road to judge the competition.

It was the ninth year the couple have been judges and said this year's crop of entries were as good as ever.

However, they missed some familiar faces and are appealing for more keen gardeners to come forward next year to stand a chance of winning the 12 cash prizes.

Winner of the large garden category was John Foote from Piddlehinton

Mr Foote took first prize for the seventh time in nine years. He spends 12 hours a day in his garden and on the morning of the competition was out dead-heading at 6am. His award- winning garden includes a stunning display of orange, white and red shoulder-high gladioli.

Mr Foote has grown more than 1,600 plants in baskets, tubs and borders, and has 87 containers to water despite waiting for a hip operation. He said he was 'over the moon' to gain recognition again and will put the money towards a new shed.

David Bishop of Puddletown triumphed for the third time in the small gardens category.

Mr Bishop said he has made extra efforts with colourful home-grown annuals this year. In addition to his favourite begonias, impatiens and geraniums, he has introduced a touch of blue this year with ageratum.

As well as a lawn and traditional vegetables, his garden features graceful arches with honeysuckle and clematis.

The first prize of £100 in the patios and containers category was awarded jointly to neighbours Brenda Chant and Betty Galpin of Sherborne.

In the communal gardens section, which was introduced last year, Linda Sertin of Chickerell took the honours.

Together with her neighbours she maintains a shared front garden and grew 350 busy lizzies from seed harvested last autumn for this year's display.

She said: "I am absolutely thrilled to bits."

She is sharing her £100 prize with her neighbours.