Blooming marvellous alleys rewarded

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 29th Sep 2008

A Heywood back street is celebrating after being named the best alley in town.

Residents on the alley in the Wild Street/Promenade Street area have won first prize in the council's 'Alley in Bloom' competition, which was open to residents of streets with alleygates across the whole of Rochdale.

David and Barbara England, who live on Wild Street, entered the competition on behalf of them and their neighbours. The group have won some garden vouchers so they can make the alley look even greener, plus an engraved plaque to display with pride in the back street.

Councillor Ted Flynn, cabinet member for Community Safety on Rochdale Council judged the Alley in Bloom competition and presented the prize to the winners.

Councillor Flynn said: "This alleyway has been transformed into a lovely communal area which all the residents thoroughly enjoy. Seeing how residents can enhance an alley once it's had gates put up is very impressive. I hope that this will encourage other communities that have benefited from alleygates to do something similar."

Second prize went to East View/Mitchell Street in Rochdale and third prize to a project round the back of 337-347 Edenfield Road.

The Alley in Bloom competition started last year and is run by Rochdale Council each summer for residents who have benefited from the installation of alleygates to their back alleyway.