Constant showers may be disappointing for the sun-seekers among us, but they are certainly good news for York's gardens.

This year's York In Bloom competition promises to unearth a hot bed of new gardening talent by highlighting many private gardens which, up until now, have been the best-kept secrets of their owners.

One such garden belongs to Pamela and Tony Watts, of Stratford Way, Huntington.

They have spent the last four years transforming their "patch of soil" into a "little piece of paradise" by planting it with a wide variety of plants and flowers such as climbing roses and clematus and building a pond and a patio.

Mrs Watts, a support worker at a home for the elderly said: "It has always been a bit of a passion.

"We have been building this garden for a few years and we have just finished it.

"We think it is rather nice so we just thought we would enter.

"I think it is such a lovely hobby and I hope we can inspire other people."

The Watts' garden proves that small can be beautiful and a garden does not have to be a rambling four acres of landscaped perfection to have a good chance of winning the competition.

If you would like to enter, fill in the entry coupon in the Evening Press and send it to John Coombes, Leisure Services, City of York Council, 18 Back Swinegate, York, YO1 8ZD. The closing date for entries is Monday, June 29.

Judging takes place during the two weeks commencing July 6 and winners will be announced at the end of July.

Categories are: (A) Small/Medium (single or double fronted) business, shops, restaurants etc in the Inner City area. (*). (B) Small/Medium (single or double-fronted) businesses in Outer City areas. (C) Large Businesses, shops, offices, large hotels etc in the Inner City area. (D) Large Businesses in Outer City areas, including large hotels/pubs with gardens. (E) Small/Medium industrial premises in Greater York. (F) Large Industrial Premises in Greater York. (G) Inner City pub (*). (H) Outer City pub (*). (I) Guest House/Small Hotel, Inner City (*).( J) Guest House/Small Hotel, Outer City (*). (K) Best Public Building in Greater York (hospital, library etc). (L) School Garden/Floral Display. (M) Street/Shopping Centre. (N) Private Garden (front/rear/both) in Greater York (beyond the Outer Ring road).(P) Small Floral Display at a private dwelling, eg backyard, roof garden, window boxes, tubs, hanging baskets etc. (Q) Vegetable Garden or Allotment Plot. (*).

SPECIAL AWARDS: A special award for the Garden of the Year will be made to an entrant from categories N, O and P at the discretion of the judges.

The best overall pensioner's garden will be selected from categories N, O, P and Q.

Also in the private gardens section prizes will be awarded for the Most Improved Garden and the Best New Entrant.

* Inner York is within and including both sides of the inner ring road; Outer York is between the inner and outer ring roads; Greater York is the new York Local Government area.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.