PEOPLE whose hard work and persistence contributed to Keighley's strong showing in this year's Yorkshire in Bloom awards have been thanked.

Among the results unveiled last week was a platinum award for Keighley Town Council for its work to look after Town Hall Square.

The council also received a discretionary award recognising its care of the square's war memorial.

Keighley town clerk Safia Kauser this week said: "On behalf of the town council I'd like to extend special thanks to our contractor, Steve Thorpe and Son Gardening Ltd for the wonderful flower displays in Town Hall Square, Aura Conservation for the restoration of the bronze statues and war memorial and caretaker Steve Finnegan for the refurbishment of the benches and railings.

"Also, not forgetting the council's allotments and landscapes committee with the dedicated support of our allotments officer Lee Senior for the overall management of the square and the support of myself as town clerk to allotments and landscapes committee and to the council.

"The award wouldn't have been won without the contribution and dedication of all parties that played a part in their respective roles."

Mr Thorpe said: “I think it’s brilliant news. We do this work to make the square nice for the people of Keighley but it’s always good to be recognised.”

The full results, including the highest possible award of platinum for the town council in the open spaces category, were announced last week at a presentation ceremony in York.

Keighley picked up silver gilt in the large town/small city category, while the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway was awarded gold in the visitor attractions section.

Keighley boasted a category winner and gold recipient in the small business premises section. This was won by Mount Pleasant Kennels & Cattery in Moss Carr Road, Long Lee.

A spokesman for this business, which also won the same category last year, paid tribute to the efforts of the kennels' gardener, Stan Neave.

And the shopping centres and retail parks category was won by the Airedale Shopping Centre, which gained gold and also won a new section – the Yorkshire Rose best in business award.

Centre manager Steve Seymour said he was delighted with how well Airedale had competed against major shopping centres in Sheffield, Beverley, Selby and Halifax.

"We're over the moon," he added. "We wanted to get a gold, which is what we managed last year, but we were up against some very tough competition.

"Our success reflects the hard work and efforts put in by all our team. They are proud of what they do and they go above and beyond every year."

Other award winners in Keighley district included Cliffe Castle, which won silver in the country houses, estates and parks and gardens category, The High Spring Residents Association, in Keighley, judged as "thriving" in the RHS It’s Your Neighbourhood section and Haworth Primary School Gardening Club, which won gold in the Harrogate Flower Show young people's award.