A NATIONAL newspaper columnist who began a 'Tales from the Country' column after moving to Herefordshire ended up visiting many unseen corners of the county.

Brian Viner of The Independent was asked to be a 'best gardens' judge. He and his fellow judges in the Marches Housing Association Gardening Competition travelled many miles in Herefordshire and parts of neighbouring counties.

Association spokeswoman Alison Hawkins said this year's competition saw a huge increase of entries and the highest quality gardens the judges have seen.

"Deciding on the winners was even more difficult than usual," she said. "There were quality entries for all the categories."

Overall winners were Steve and Mary Gittens of Tenbury Wells - the second year in a row that the overall winners have come from the town.

The judges were impressed by not only the sheer hard work that had gone into the gardens entered, but the high level of creativity that was exhibited by the fantastic array of colours and shades introduced through clever planting:

"The colours were quite breathtaking," said Brian Viner. "It was a privilege to be involved in the judging process but immensely hard work to decide on winners in each of the categories."

The difficulty in deciding between two very good entries was shown by a couple of joint awards, where the judges could not choose between the entries being judged.

Winners, Best Garden: 1 Steven and Mary Gittens, Tenbury Wells - £100 worth of garden vouchers; Joint second place: Iris Green, Steensbridge and Peter and Christine Williams from Bodenham - £50 worth of garden vouchers; Joint 3rd June Stevens, Burghill, Christine Hubbard, Stretton Sugwas and Peter Jones from Kington - £25 worth of vouchers

4 Patricia Morgan, Lyonshall - £15 worth of vouchers.

Best Hanging Baskets and planters: 1 Marian Morris, Leintwardine -£100 worth of vouchers; 2 Mrs Velda Kaye, Leominster - £50 worth of vouchers; 3 Joseph and Jean Vaughan, Kington - £25 worth of garden vouchers; 4 Thelma Hopkins, Ledbury - £15 worth of garden vouchers.

Best Communal Garden: Rose Jones and Mrs Major, Paradise Court, Leominster - £50 of vouchers.

Best New Garden: Christine Shellam, Weobley - £10 of vouchers.