COMMUNITY gardeners in Walthamstow Village have won an award in a London-wide competition.

The Walthamstow Village Residents Association entered the village into the London in Bloom competition and has been told by judges that it will receive an award an Urban Communities Award.

Residents spent hours weeding, pruning and clearing the streets to enter the Royal Horticultural Society's (RHS) competition for the first time.

Helen Lerner, who put forward the idea of entering, will be attending an awards ceremony on September 11 to find out whether they won a gold, silver or bronze award.

She said: “It is very exciting. It is quite a prestigious RHS award and shows we are up to a high standard.

“It was a great community effort and we were extremely pleased about how many people got involved and spruced up their front gardens.

"Hopefully with getting this award, more people will get involved next year.”