A NEWPORT community is celebrating winning a top national accolades for its environmental and educational project.

Bettws in Bloom was given the top possible grade of outstanding by judges from Britain in Bloom.

The project entered the It's Your Neighbourhood category, which was introduced this year and assesses how neighbourhood projects encourage community participation, are aware of environmental responsibility and how they achieve in gardening.

Assessor Jennie Judd called it an excellent example of horticulture which provides educational, health and social benefits.

She said: "The Bettws in Bloom project is lead by the most enthusiastic and dedicated team I have ever embraced."

The project scored 87 points out of a possible 100.

Almost 4,000 community projects entered the category and Bettws in Bloom chairman Colin Baker said the group was delighted and proud of their achievement.

"It's the pinnacle of all the hard work by our volunteers," he said.

This is not the first award the project has won, having received more than 50 other awards since Bettws in Bloom became a charity in 2001.