ST MARTIN’S was last night crowned best small town in the 2006 Britain in Bloom UK finals. It was fourth time lucky for the parish, having made the final three previous times, achieving runner-up in 1999 and 2001 and silver gilt in 2003.

Speaking from Scotland just minutes after receiving the award, floral committee chairman John Nicolle said: ‘We thought we had done pretty well because all the judges we have met since being here have been very positive. But now we really feel that we have put Guernsey well on the map.’

Fellow committee members Jim Clark, Jane Rix and senior constable Richard Strappini joined him on stage to accept the award.

‘We will be celebrating well into the night with a bottle of whisky.’

St Martin’s triumphed over Dunnington, Yorkshire – the other entry in the small town category – after winning a gold award.

Mr Nicolle said the committee would have been more than happy with another silver gilt and to receive gold was absolutely stunning.

It was Guernsey’s first win – Herm clinched the small coastal category in 2002.

Royal Horticultural Society Britain in Bloom judge Susan Smith said the committee had been extremely well supported by their fellow parishioners, businesses and organisations.

‘Community spirit simply exuded throughout this entry,’ she said.

‘Recent sustainable plantings around the new community centre, wonderful displays by the committee, businesses and individual gardeners and good involvement of primary school children all contribute to making this an ﾓin Bloomﾔ town.’

Sarah Lucas, a nail technician at Fake It, said everyone in the parish had made an effort. ‘It brings all the shop owners together and, because of it, the area is getting much more of that village atmosphere about it,’ said the 19-year-old.

‘Whenever the clients come in, they always seem to comment on how good the whole area looks.’

The awards ceremony was hosted by Perth in Bloom in the town’s new state-of-the-art concert hall. The St Martin’s delegation was among representatives from 65 UK finalists in attendance. The four have been making the most of the hospitality.

‘We attended a ceilidh on Wednesday night which we all enjoyed and yesterday afternoon we had a tour of the magnificent Drummond Castle Gardens near Muthill,’ said Mr Nicolle.

The awards were presented by Beautiful Scotland in Bloom president Lady Jane Grosvenor. A further 14 finalists received gold awards – more than double last year’s total.