GREEN-FINGERED York residents have been celebrating after their gardens scooped a clutch of awards.

The annual best garden contest run by York Housing Association awarded prizes to gardeners at its properties across York in several different categories.

Retired couple Mel and Marion Bolton, of Navigation Road, were on top of the world after receiving the best balcony award. The couple say they aim to keep their miniature upstairs garden overlooking the street colourful at all times of the year.

Mrs Bolton said: “Our home and garden have been our life, so even though we live upstairs we had to have a garden in miniature.”

The most creative recycled display award went to Gloria Clarke for her garden in Acomb Road, York. She used old washing-up bowls, containers and seeds to create a colourful sitting area along with a Van Gogh-style painted tree scene made from old pieces of board.

Sharon Beadnell of Trinity Lane, off Micklegate, won the award for the best small garden.

Fourteen gardens entered the competition across all categories, with the winners receiving £40 in cash and an engraved vase trophy.

Kirsty DIxon, the association’s customer services manager, said: “The usual high quality of entries which as ever made the judging difficult, but the good thing was that the sun actually shone for us, which was a really nice.”