ALTON is to be awarded "Silver Gilt" as one of the runners-up in the large town category of Southern England in Bloom 2003.
Pipped to the post by the much larger town of Winchester, Alton did well to claim a place in a category for towns with populations of up to 35,000, tying with Christchurch, Romsey and Salisbury.
There was Gold, however, for Alton County Infants School, which will receive an award for its success in the NCAM Green Fingers Challenge for which pupils managed their very own fruit and vegetable patch.
And Alton Sainsbury's have been named Gold award winners for the best chain store frontage.
While Gold is awarded for obtaining more than 85 per cent in the judging, Silver Gilt marks an achievement of 75 to 84 per cent.
Announced at a meeting of the judges in Bournemouth last Thursday, the placing reflects a gradual improvement in the standard of Alton's entry in a competition which aims to encourage all sectors of the community to work together to improve and enhance the town through the imaginative planting of trees, shrubs and flowers and the removal of litter.
Points were awarded by the judges for commitment within the community, absence of graffiti and litter, floral impact which can be enjoyed by all, and evidence of joint effort on behalf of residents, local authorities and the business sector.
Spearheaded locally by Alton Town Council and Alton Chamber of Trade and Industry, this is the fifth year the town has entered the competition and it is going from strength to strength.
Alton Town Mayor, Pam Jones, was delighted with the result. She told The Herald: "I would like to thank everyone for the superb effort, and in particular the driving force behind the scheme, our deputy town clerk, Greg Burt."
Formerly managed by the Southern Tourist Board, this year's regional comeptition has been run by Tourism South East and has seen some changes in categories.
In commenting on this fact, Mr Burt said he was delighted that Alton had fared so well against much larger towns with more resources at their disposal.
He hoped that this problem would be addressed so that next year the smaller towns would be able to compete on a fairer footing.
l Winners of the local Alton in Bloom competition will be announced in The Herald next week.