A huge community effort was hopefully rewarded when Anglia in Bloom judges were given a tour of Chatteris yesterday.

In the lead up to the big day, Chatteris in Bloom members spent their evenings riding around on a milk float, watering and dead heading all of the planters and hanging baskets.

Crafts people and volunteers repainted the Arkwright pictorial panels and the Chatteris town sign in Jubilee Gardens.

Others knitted and crocheted panels which were displayed on a grot spot in Huntingdon Road.

Volunteers learned willow weaving to make figures which were placed around the town.

Judges were taken to Meeks Cemetery, where Royal British Legion cadets have been tidying war graves, and a bus shelter they painted to commemorate the centenary of the First World War.

The town is hoping to improve on last year’s Silver Gilt. The result is announced on September 17.

Rosemarie Croucher, of Chatteris in Bloom, said: “The judges kept their thoughts close to their chests but there was a good vibe. They were cheerful and impressed with our hanging baskets.

“We hope to do better than last year’s Silver Gilt. We’ve put in enough work.”

Sadly, some people tried to scupper the town’s In Bloom bid. A printed banner, worth £90, was stolen from King Edward Road, while a pair of sun glasses and a beaded, hessian covered panel, depicting Mardi Gras, were stolen from the top of Huntingdon Road.