WISBECH has taken gold again in this year’s Anglia in Bloom for large towns with Manea Pit earning a surprise win for best conservation project and the village itself taking top honours too.

And there was good news for Payne Primary School at Parson Drove which won best young people’s project for the under 12s with their jubilee garden.

Waterlees in Wisbech figured strongly in the awards, winning silver in the urban community award.

And there was the accolade of silver gilt awards for March in the large town category and silver for Whittlesey in the same category.

In towns of between 6,000 and 12,000 residents there was silver gilt for Chatteris, adding to its array of awards in recent years.

Manea’s triumph for Manea Pit was only the start for it was the winner and silver gilt recipient for best large village of between 1,001 and 2,500 residents. In the same category Drove scooped silver gilt.

Bob Ollier, Anglia in Bloom chairman, said: “After one of the wettest and most difficult summers, including a hose pipe ban, it is astonishing that the Anglia communities have achieved some of the best blooming displays across the six counties of the Anglia Region.

“With superb floral displays, excellent community work, we have seen standards raised beyond expectations.

“It was evident this year that the key to success is ‘community involvement’ where everyone pulls together, gets involved and then delivers.

“Communities are also recognising the importance of sustainable displays coupled with good horticultural standards, delivering outstanding bedding displays.

“These are all achieved through the support from sponsors and community groups engaged across the Region, who are all dedicated to enhancing their community within our prestigious Environmental Campaign.

“I wish to congratulate all the communities and neighbourhoods in the East of England, for the enthusiasm, commitment and effort made to improve, develop and sustain local environments across our region, it is a great credit to you all. Well done.”

George Dawson, chairman of the judges, said: “A community is a winner as soon as it enters into the campaign. It seems that every year the British climate tries to wreck all the efforts that the communities do to improve their areas.

“However as the awards show, it seems it makes no difference as standards have actually improved again.”