VOLUNTEERS in Usk are celebrating the town’s 32nd consecutive win in this year’s Wales in Bloom competition.

Usk was awarded the silver gilt award in the large village category, one below last year’s gold award, after impressing the judges with its many eye-catching beds and baskets that have been planted and maintained by the group.

The judges said that Usk is an excellent example where a splash of floral colour has been subtly combined with an appreciation of both local heritage and care for the environment producing an award-winning combination that brings benefits to all.

They added: “The enthusiasm of all concerned is to be congratulated and none more so than the children of Usk primary school and Sunflowers Nursery”

Chairman, Tony Kear said :“This is indeed a remarkable achievement for the incredibly hardworking volunteers. We have had 28 people from all ages supporting us this year who have been involved in the different phases of planning, planting, and regular deadheading.”

“It’s been a bigger challenge this year than previous seasons due to the urgent need to raise funds to replace rotten flower barrels and the extremes in the weather from a cold spring to a heat wave in parts of the summer and then heavy storms in the run up to judging which left a rather bedraggled look.”

“We are very, very proud that the work we do as a relatively small group has a huge benefit to Usk."

Usk is also representing Wales in the Britain in Bloom UK finals and is one of only three Welsh towns, cities or villages in the competition.

Among the Monmouthshire winners were Abergavenny, which recieved a silver gilt and merit for its displays as a small town and the newly formed Villages in Bloom Committee representing Mathern, Mounton and Pwllmeyric as one entry received a silver gilt.

The Millers Arms public house, Mathern, also won a silver gilt award in the hotels, guest and public houses and restaurants category.

Chairman of the committee, Greg Howell, said: “We wanted to build upon what has been done previously and extend the community involvement. "We decided not to focus on one village, but all three which is a real challenge”.

The award ceremony takes place in Cleethorpes on October 12.