Tameside Council has shown it can bloom anywhere after its debut entry at this year’s Southport Flower Show won the first prize in its category.

The Local Authority Bedding Display is a new category at the show and the council was invited to compete. Southport Flower Show is widely recognised as the country’s largest independent flower show and this year’s theme was music. Tameside's entry was called “Best of Brass - A celebration of Tameside's brass band heritage”.

Tameside is home to the oldest brass band in the world (Stalybridge Old Band est. 1807). Elements of the bedding display included the colours of the nine senior bands operating in Tameside today and a representation of the regeneration of local bandstands.

The council’s entry won Best in Show in its category and was awarded the highest accolade of “Large Gold”. First prize of £1000 was presented to Peter Hadfield of Tameside in Bloom by Ray Roukin, chair of the Southport Flower Show.

Project head for sport and leisure Cllr Dave Sweeton said: “ Winning this award is another feather in our cap. I've always known what talent we have here at Tameside and winning at such a prestigous event at our first attempt, shows we're really going from strength to strength."