A PICTURESQUE Monmouthshire village has won a top prize acclaim in a prestigious national horticulture awards.

Usk has been named joint winner of the large village category in the Royal Horticultural Society’s Britain in Bloom awards, alongside Market Bosworth in the East Midlands.

The village was awarded a gold medal for the high standard of its entry, with judges singling out features such as the castle and its grounds, a resident’s front garden known as The White Garden and the mix of wildflowers used to attract bees for particular praise.

Judges chairman Roger Burnett said: “It’s a huge honour to witness how Britain in Bloom brings people together and the lengths that groups go to to make their communities clean, green and beautiful.

“We saw an incredible diversity of different planting schemes, including wildflower meadows for wildlife, community food growing and plants chosen to cope with our changing climate.

“This year, the standard was as high as ever but what really stood out was the creativity and ingenuity that groups showed in tackling the specific challenges of their particular areas, whether that be lack of funding, local social issues or tricky site conditions.”

In a statement Usk in Bloom, which manages the town's floral displays, said it was "Absolutely delighted by the award".

Llandudno was also awarded gold medal at an award ceremony on Friday, October 27, in the category for coastal communities with a population over 12,000 people while Pembrey and Burry Port in West Wales won a silver gilt in the best town category.