High standards made judging the 1994 Ulverston’s Charter Festival hanging basket and floral display competitions extremely difficult, said town mayor Cllr Janette Jenkinson.

After admiring the array of flowers on display in the town centre, Cllr Jenkinson had the unenviable task of choosing trophy winners.

Her votes went to two local businesses for their excellent displays.

The Ulverston and District Estate Agent’s hanging basket trophy went to Gina Cook, for what the mayor called an ‘original’ display at the entrance to her ladies’ fashion shop in New Market Street.

Gina, who said one of her customers put the baskets of flowers together, was delighted.

The Ulverston Charter Festival trophy for floral display went to Tony Smyth’s hairdressers The Salon, in County Mews, Theatre Street.

This, too, was created by a customer, Alison Luscombe, a part-time horticulturist.

Bill and Ben triumphed in the Ulverston Charter Shield competition for the best dressed market stall in 1994.

The previous year Janet Walker of Farmhouse Pantry, in the town’s market hall, had won by turning her stall into the Rover’s Return from Coronation Street.

This time the stall staff chose flowerpot men to illustrate the competition theme How Does Your Garden Grow? And it won again.

The display comprised garden gnomes, artificial vegetables, gardening tools, corn and a farmhouse loaf.

Janet dressed as Bill, Gillian McPhillips as Ben and her staff were the Little Weeds.

Janet said: "I'm delighted to have won and would like to go for a hat-trick next year.

"We've enjoyed it and had a bit of a giggle."

Winner of Ulverston Charter Window Dressing Trophy was Pat Whittaker, of Dent's Florists in Brogden Street.

Her display included a mixture of real and artificial plants and flowers, a traditional beesom broom, plus tiny hedgehogs, birds, plant pots and gardening tools.

Fabric House, in Brogden Street, with its display of gardening implements with handles covered in materials, won the runners-up trophy.