COMMUNITIES in Monmouthshire are celebrating another successful year at the 50th Wales in Bloom awards, with groups bringing seven awards back to the county.

For the 36th year running, Usk received top prizes at the event in Carmarthenshire last week, and its Usk in Bloom community team struck gold once again in the best large village category.

The town’s Usk Church in Wales Primary School also came second in the school garden category.

The group’s chairman, Tony Kear, was also honoured at the anniversary dinner the evening before the ceremony and was warded the Norman Stewart Memorial Cup.

Mr Kear was recognised for his “considerable contributions” to the Usk community, but he was quick to praise his teammates.

He said: “I’m delighted to have received this award which without doubt is truly on behalf of everyone involved in Usk in Bloom. Without the help of the volunteers, the support of Usk Businesses and the MCC teams none of this would have been possible.”

Usk will go on to compete in the large village category in the national Britain in Bloom awards, the competition that Mathern, Mounton & Pwllmeyric Villages in Bloom earned a silver gilt in last year.

At Wales in Bloom this year, they once again came top in the village category scooping a silver gilt, but the group are still aiming for an overall gold award in the near future.

Chairman Greg Howell said: “We’re happy to come top in the village category but we’re disappointed to miss out on gold. We have a meeting on September 28 when we’ll be planning for next year.”

Mathern pub The Millers Arms also won a silver gilt for its frontage in the hotels, guest houses, pubs and restaurants category.

Elsewhere Raglan in Bloom picked up a silver gilt in the best large village category, while Abergavenny in Bloom secured silver gilt for their effort in the best town category, which was won by the hosts, Pembrey and Burry Port Town Council.

The Old Hamlet in Llanmartin earned a silver gilt in the small village category.

The Royal Horticultural Society sanctioned awards aim to find and celebrate communities with the best floral displays, organic gardening, and water features on offer.