HALESOWEN In Bloom volunteers celebrated the town's resounding success in the competition again this year.

The town received another Gold Award- making it the ninth year it has scooped the top award.

Halesowen in Bloom volunteers attended the RHS Heart of England Awards ceremony on Friday September 20.

After judges said there was so much going on in the town last year that it was too much to visit in two and a half hours the decision was made to enter other categories.

The team advised some volunteers to go it alone in the It’s Your Neighbourhood category and also decided to enter Bloom in the Business Improvement District category, which meant the judges took a new route.

This paid off and Halesowen also swept the board at the RHS Heart of England It’s Your Neighbourhood Awards on Friday September 13.

Leasowes Walled Garden and The Woodlands, an area of woodland next to a stream on the Squirrels Estate which locals have tidied up and planted, were awarded Level 5 Outstanding.

The Finger Post Gardens, off New Road and The Friends of the Leasowes weren’t far behind, scooping Level 4 Thriving awards.

Linda Jones won a special award for her amazing work in the woodlands on Lansdowne Road.

Eve O’Connor, chair of Halesowen in Bloom, said: “It was a gamble reducing the number of volunteering projects in the Bloom and devising a new route too but Halesowen bloomin' did it.

"Many thanks for all the volunteers who work all year round giving Halesowen a great community spirit.”

Vicky Shakespeare, the Business Improvement District manager said: “The BID businesses and the Bloom volunteers work so well together.

"Entering the BID category was a risk but it paid off.

"Gold first time! "We are looking forward to 2025.

"Let’s make it ten years of Gold in Halesowen!”

There will be a celebratory party in December for all the volunteers.