WIRRAL is in bloom after residents and community groups worked hard to create floral features to show how much they love Wirral.

Due to their successful efforts, 27 of these amazing transformations have now been entered into North West in Bloom’s annual competition.

The projects showcased a huge amount of volunteer hours and agencies going all out to improve local areas including shopping areas, planting up of neighbourhood centres and communal areas.

Cabinet member for environment Cllr Phillip Brightmore said: “In Bloom is such a fantastic and well established initiative, it’s about more than plants and flowers, it’s about bringing the community together and not just for a couple of weeks of planting and tidying up, but throughout the year, encouraging everyone to become involved in their own local areas.

“The results will be announced in November, so we’ll be keeping our fingers crossed until then.

"But we’re sure everyone will agree that all the projects look fantastic and everyone who has taken part is already a winner in my eyes.”

Over three days Royal Horticultural Society judges visited Birkenhead and Wallasey examining the hard work and imagination that has gone into this year's competition entries.

Groups in Wirral West and Wirral South have previously entered the competition and plans are already underway to increase Wirral’s entries next year.

In Birkenhead judges visited: Water Street, Gautby Road, Bidston Rise, Blue Wood, Livingstone Street, Claughton, Oxton Gardens, Prenton, Birkenhead Park, the Inner Park, Beaconsfield Centre, St Pauls Rock Ferry, Williamson Art Gallery, YMCA, The Lauries, The Hive, Brackendale, Beechwood and Bidston.

Peter Fletcher from Livingstone Street Centre said: “I haven’t got many gardening skills but it didn’t matter.

"We’ve grown vegetable and herbs and used them to make food for groups using the centre, and recycled all sorts of things to make planters for flowers.”

And in Wallasey judges headed over to visit groups in Wallasey Village, Liscard and Seacombe to view their floral displays.

They met residents who have been involved in each project and were looking for entries that improve the local area through the imaginative use of trees, shrubs, flowers and landscaping, while also achieving a litter free and sustainable environment.