A TOWN'S very first best allotment competition has sparked growing interest and hard-fought rivalry.

The Loughton Town Council competition saw gardeners from across the area hard at work in their patches with the overall winner announced as Rosie Partridge, a plot holder at the Loughton Potato Ground.

She was presented with a shield, certificate, and £25 gardening voucher for her efforts in a presentation ceremony headed by town mayor Ken Angold-Stephens.

There were also five Highly Commended winners: Corrine Hobday, Neil Jackson, and Maurice Vale who are plotters at the Willingale Road Allotments, and Jan Boucek from the Loughton Potato Ground.

Clive Foyle the fifth highly commended winner was not able to attend the presentation event.

Cllr Angold-Stephens said: “The standard was very high which made the judging very difficult and it took a second round of visits the next day to finally come to a decision. Roding Valley Allotment site has indicated their interest in joining next year which we welcome and will make the event even more competitive.”