Top of the pots

Bernice Clark, winner of Rochdale’s Alley in Bloom Competition 2013, surrounded by some of the stunning plants and flowers she and friend Sue Thomas have introduced to transform a previously vandalised alleyway

A green fingered gardening duo have won Rochdale’s Alley in Bloom Competition - after transforming a run down, vandalised alleyway into a fragrant bee and butterfly haven.

Sue Thomas and Bernice Clark have been awarded the top prize for their blooming marvellous work on the alleyway off Edenfield Road.

Sue and Bernice originally tried to spruce up the alley with a couple of plant pots but their plans were hindered by vandalism and a wheelie bin fire.

Alley gates were installed in January 2006. This provided the added security the ladies need to encourage them to increase the plants they already had, and the alley is now home to 14 baskets and 19 pot plants bursting with a wide range of flowers and shrubs.

The duo won a first prize of £50 voucher to be spent at Bowlee Nursery and a second prize of £25 was also awarded to Mr Hendy and Mr Morgan of Hargreaves Street in Castleton.