Hard-working people in Cricklade are busily preparing for the arrival of judges from Britain in Bloom.

expectations are high in the town that won the gold award for the best small town in the UK in 2008 and for the last five years has claimed the gold award for the south west.

Anita Barratt, of Cricklade Bloomers, said the town was looking its best. “It’s a year round job but at the moment we’re making sure everything is looking its best.

“We’re having working groups every Wednesday and Saturday.

“There are some basic horticultural practices that need doing like dead heading and pruning so that the flowers are peaking at the right time.

“We also sweep the paths and pick up litter but thankfully there isn’t much.”

This year people have been adopting a sign by planting a small border under street signs.

Mrs Barratt said it was tough to keep up the standards set in previous years.

The south west judges will inspect the town on July 21 with the national judges following on August 2.

Mrs Barratt said: “The dry weather has made things a difficult, we’re doing a lot of watering at the moment.

“Small places like Cricklade rely on visitors and tourism. It is important we support our shops by keeping the place looking attractive.”