LES Loveridge has the best garden in Lyme Regis – and that’s a fact.

Mr Loveridge’s pristine garden in Woodmead Road won him the Cup for Overall Winner in the Lyme Regis Britain in Bloom Garden Competition.

He was closely followed in second place by Pauline Hooley, who won the Cup for Runner-up.

And the Nags Head pub in Silver Street won the coveted Shield for Best Business, thanks to the colourful array of window boxes and hanging baskets.

Home produce was a new category for this year and Rose Dean took first prize and was awarded a new cup provided by Emma Young and Lindsey Blake from Rousdon, who both entered the competition last year.

St Michael’s Primary School was also awarded a special commendation certificate.

Entries were up on last year, making the job of judges Sydie Bones and Paul Dunsford much tougher.

Competition organiser Wendy Alexander said: “Once again the judges were so impressed with the wonderful gardens we have seen and do thank all entrants for the privilege of seeing them.

“The weather was so cold in the winter so I deliberately left it later in the season so the plants had a chance to come out.

“I would like to thank the judges for their expertise, good humour and sheer stamina. We were on the go for many hours looking at beautiful gardens, gorgeous plants and healthy produce.”

Winner Mr Loveridge was surprised to take the best garden title. He said: “I’m very happy I have won it. I’m surprised I have won it, I never expected to win.

“I do love gardening, it’s one of my hobbies, and to be told I have got the best garden in Lyme Regis, I’m absolutely gobsmacked.

“My grandfather was the head gardener at a home in Uplyme when it was a big private home and my dad always used to like to garden, so I suppose it wore off on me.”

And while judges were at Mr Loveridge’s garden they noticed some produce growing, including gooseberries, blackcurrants, and apples, and encouraged him to enter the home produce category. He came a respectable joint fifth, along with Lym Close resident Jayne Saunders.

The Nags Head took the title of best business after a break last year while owners Rob and Debbie Hamon re-decorated the bar and B&B rooms.

Mr Hamon said: “I’m very pleased – it’s something we didn’t really expect.

“We do it because it looks nice and we do a lot of B&Bs so it always looks good when people arrive.

“And where we are situated people don’t tend to notice us. If there are flowers people will notice there’s a pub.

“We have won it a couple of times before so we have to keep increasing it and try to do something different every year.”

All entrants are invited to send in photographs of their gardens taken around judging day, to be displayed at the presentation evening in the Guildhall in early September.

The photographs must be with the tourist information centre by Friday, August 20 and should be mounted on a base or card. They will be returned at the presentation evening.

RESULTS ROUND-UP Cup for Overall Winner – Les Loveridge Cup for Runner-up – Pauline Hooley Shield for Best Business – Nags Head Cup for Home Produce – Rosie Dean Special commendation certificate – St Michael’s Primary School Businesses: 1; Nags Head, 2; Royal Lion Hotel, 3; Talbot Arms, Joint 4; Lucerne B&B, 5th Hedgehog Corner Private Houses: 1;Les Loveridge, 2;Carol Brown, 3;Gloria Emmett, 4; Maria Wason Private Flats: 1; – Judy Cotis, 2; Joy Cross Hanging Baskets: 1; Annette Denning, 2; Andrew Hodder, 3; Grahame Forshaw Window Boxes and Tubs: 1; Andrew Hodder, 2; Annette Denning Magna Housing: 1; Bob Kendrick, 2; Janet Christopher Retired People’s Gardens: 1; Pauline Hooley, 2; D Kaxe, 3; Joan Healy Group Gardens: 1; Clappentail Estates, 2; Abbeyfield Home Produce : 1; Rosie Dean, 2; Joan Healy, Joint 3; D Kaxe and Pauline Hooley, Joint 4; Lindsey Blake and Gordon Simpkins, Joint 5; Jayne Saunders and Les Loveridge, Joint 6; Maria Wason, Joy Cross and Andrew Hodder