THE judges were in town yesterday as Cricklade stepped up to the bar in a bid to be crowned the Champion of Champions, in Britain in Bloom’s highest competitive category.

The town is competing against five other towns in the UK, and is only one of two finalists in the whole of England chosen to compete for the national title, alongside Garstang in Lancashire.

Yesterday, national Britain in Bloom judges Martyn Hird and Jeff Bates were given a tour of the town to take note of the efforts made by the local community to bring the area to an outstanding level of achievement.

Cricklade Bloomers, the voluntary group spearheading the town’s entry along with the town council, Wiltshire Council and local groups and individuals, have worked tirelessly to clean up and green the town and members helped show the judges around yesterday.

Jeff was in Cricklade for the first time, and said there were certain criteria the judges were looking for.

He said: “We are looking for quality of horticulture, environmental responsibility and the community participation because we want to make sure local people are involved and not just the town council.”

Martyn said: “This is the third time I have judged Cricklade and we can say it has been very nice.

“We have been impressed with how it all looks, and the turn out from the community has been good as well. It is interesting because in previous years Cricklade has been up against towns that are a similar size, but in the Champions category this year it is a variety so although they may be brilliant, they may not be brilliant enough.

“We are harsh judges but we have to be – we are trying to find the very best.”

The judge’s route included a visit to the community garden and the town’s famous national nature reserve, North Meadow, as well as the resplendent High Street and various residential areas.

The judges and other guests including Jane Scott, leader of Wiltshire Council, also joined Cricklade Bloomers in their garden behind the town council offices for a short lunch.

Town council chairman David Tetlow said: “The amount of work that has been put on by the people of Cricklade is really just amazing, and we think we deserve to win.

“Every community group has got involved in some way, be it schools or community choirs. Everyone has taken part and it is a really big day for us.”

The winner of the competition will be announced at a ceremony at St Andrew’s in Scotland on September 25.