The green-fingered winners of the annual Sutton in Bloom competition have been announced.

Ann Nicholas, 72, and husband John, 71, from Surrey Grove, Sutton, were crowned with the borough's Best Front Garden award.

The couple just pipped Carshalton's Audrey and Michael Fawcett, of Acre Lane, in a reversal of last year’s result.

Their garden is clearly a labour of love with a variety of bright and colourful flowers including busy lizzies, geraniums, lobelias and Livingstone daisies.

Mrs Nicholas, who has lived in Sutton for 43 years, said: “This is the fifth time we have entered the competition and we finished as runners-up last year.

“We love gardening and love the competition so it's a real honour to win the Best Front Garden award.”

Other category winners in Sutton Council’s annual competition to find the borough's best green spaces included St Dunstans Primary School for Best School Garden.

Joanne Winn, from Little Woodcote Estate, scooped the Best Wildlife Garden title while Mr and Mrs King won the Best Allotment Garden award.

The residents of Greenway, in Wallington, and Sutton Business Centre won the Best Community Garden and Best Business Frontage award respectively.

Dominic Aslangul, from Sutton Council’s competition co-ordinator, said: “There were a lot of strong entries in every category this year and it’s great to see so many people getting involved and taking a pride in their gardens.

“We’re also very grateful to the Sutton Guardian, Times Square Shopping Centre, Recognition Awards and Woodcote Green Garden Centre & Nurseries for supporting this year’s Sutton In Bloom competition.”

Mr and Mrs Nicholas will represent Sutton, along with the other borough winners, at the London in Bloom awards.

The winner then goes forward to the Britain in Bloom competition - Europe’s largest horticultural campaign.