The year's biggest green-fingered contest in Thurrock announced its winners this week.

Thurrock in Bloom 2015 gave out awards for categories including Best Front Garden and Best Community Project.

Three awards went to Chadwell St Mary Primary School for their kitchen-vegetable growing gardens, and awards also went to Hassenbrook Academy and Belmont Allotment.

The Mayor was in attendance last Tuesday night to hand out the certificates and to congratulate the winners.

Jackie Humberstone of Thurrock in Bloom, said: “As usual the judges were impressed by the enthusiasm of the children who are involved in a variety of gardening activities within their schools.

"This included the range of different and innovative ways in which they were utilising their outdoor spaces and learning about nature…..from growing vegetables and flowers from seed to providing wildlife habitats for insects and other creatures.”

Stanford Blooming Marvels won the Outstanding Contribution by a Citizen award.

Awards categories included: Best Front Garden, Best Allotment Garden, Best Hanging Basket / Container, Best Doorstep and Best Community Project and Best School allotment Garden.

Mrs Humberstone added: “A special mention was given to our youngest allotment garden entrant, Jack Day for his allotment garden at home and his edible hanging basket.

"Jack is just seven years old but the judges were impressed by his enthusiasm for growing vegetables which he tends on a daily basis.

Jack was said by the competition to receive silver awards for his allotment garden and edible hanging basket plus a wooden bug box to encourage beneficial insects to his vegetable plot.

Full coverage and a picture gallery of winning entries will be in this week's Thurrock Gazette.

The full list of awards are as follows:

Best Front Garden: Mr & Mrs Fowler

Best Allotment Garden: Mark Gibbons

Best Hanging Basket / Container: Tracey Andrews

Best Doorstep: Jayne Green

Best Community Project: Belmont Allotment Schools & Community Project

Best School Allotment Garden: Chadwell St Mary Primary

Best School Hanging Basket / Container: Hassenbrook Academy

Best School Wildlife Garden: Chadwell St Mary Primary

Best Senior Citizen Complex: O’Donoghue House Schools & Young People (incorporating Environmental Garden) Chadwell St Mary Primary

Outstanding contribution by a citizen: Lin Swords