Teams Calne and Corsham won gold in the South West in Bloom competition at an award ceremony in Trowbridge.

Beversbrook Sports and Community Facility also picked up gold in the parks and open spaces category on its first time of entering.

In the main competition, judges mark cities, towns and villages based on horticultural achievement, environmental responsibility and community participation.

From these marks, towns are awarded gold, silver-gilt, silver or bronze awards, or a certificate of commendation.

Calne just missed out on being named overall winner in the Portman Cup category last week, for towns with a population between 12,000 and 18,999, the honour going to Falmouth.

Calne in Bloom chairman and town mayor Coun Heather Canfer said: “I couldn’t believe it.

“It was a really full-on day with all the different categories – it was really interesting.”

Last year Calne won a silver-gilt award, one below a gold award, but managed to accumulate enough marks during the July judging to reach the top classification this time around.

The Beversbrook Sports and Community Facility also achieved the level five ‘outstanding’ achievement award in the ‘It’s Your Neighbourhood’ category along with Calne Bowls Club, Friends of Abberd Brook, Castlefields Canal and River Park.

Head groundsmen Neil Ash is already planning next year’s colours and schemes, having been complimented by judges on his work this year.

On its Facebook page, Calne Town Council wrote: “Thank you to all the ground staff for all your hard work planting, weeding and watering and all the other numerous jobs you do to keep the town looking great.

“Also thanks and well done to all the community groups, schools and councillors that put time and effort and got involved with Calne in Bloom.”

And a golden flag is hanging with pride from Corsham Town Hall, after the town scooped gold and the Sargent Cup in the competition.

Corsham was crowned winners in the Best Small Town category at the ceremony, which took place in Trowbridge last Thursday.

Ruth Hopkinson, who chairs Corsham in Bloom and Corsham Town Council, is thrilled that all the hard work has been recognised.

She said: “We were absolutely amazed, winning the Sargent Cup for the second time in three years was the icing on the cake.

“When we spoke to the judges, they said afterwards what we had done was absolutely in the context of Corsham, everything fitted Corsham and had been done exceptional well.

“A large number of volunteers did their own part and demonstrated the strength of the community working together.”

Lyneham and Bradenstoke, which entered for the first time this year, won a silver award.

South West in Bloom is one of 18 regional competitions that make up Britain in Bloom.