Mayor Martyn Evans and volunteers were delighted to welcome Wales in Bloom judges to Usk to view the work of Usk in Bloom and local gardeners.

The judges this year were Jim Goodwin and John Woods, current and past chairmen of Wales in Bloom.

It was perhaps appropriate that the judges met in the newly-refurbished court room at Sessions House in Usk before embarking on a 90-minute tour with John Evans and Reg Darge of the local organising committee.

Usk have adopted the Welsh colours for communal floral displays this year – red, white, green and yellow (the colour of the daffodil).

In addition to seeing Usk decked in floral splendour, the judges visited several gardens including a short tour of the school gardens guided by pupils of Usk Church in Wales Primary School.

They also heard from Graham Harris about the Usk Nature Trail and the work of the Usk Conservation and Environmental Group, as well as admiring two sets of productive allotments.

John Evans said: "Many people of all ages have contributed to the Usk entry in Class 6 and it is so encouraging to see the 'Wales in Bloom' competition continuing in 2011 after a period of uncertainty earlier in the year."

The two judges with Rebecca and Sarah of Usk Youth Club visiting the new plots in Usk developed with Section 106 funding arising from the new Barratts housing development in the town.