KEIGHLEY district's performance in this year's Yorkshire in Bloom contest has provoked contrasting reactions.

David Petyt, director of customer operations at Keighley & Worth Valley Railway (K&WVR), said he was delighted this attraction had picked up a gold award and also won the visitor attractions category.

As vice chairman of Keighley in Bloom Partnership he added he was "bitterly disappointed" that Keighley had only gained a silver gilt in the large town/small city category.

"We've had silver gilt for a number of years, and I really thought that this year we had done more than enough to be awarded gold," he said. "We thought we'd finally cracked it."

But partnership chairman Philip Smith said: "I appreciate David's thoughts and we would love to have got gold, but we are still delighted that the town has won silver gilt. It shows we are consistent and that we've maintained standards.

"I'd like to thank partnership members, Bradford Council Parks and Landscapes, gardener Steve Thorpe, the business sponsors – including Co-op Funeral Care – and businesses which took the time and effort to display flowers and hanging baskets."

Responding to the K&WVR success, Mr Petyt said: "I'm thrilled that the railway has once again won gold and is also winner of the tourism category.

"That is great news and a huge compliment to the teams who keep the stations clean and tidy, and also to our gardeners."

Other gold award winners included the Busfeild Arms pub, in East Morton. Landlord Martin Crosswaite paid tribute to his mother, Sue, who is responsible for the pub's floral displays.

"We're chuffed to bits, but it doesn't half take a lot of effort to do it all," he said. "It's my mum's passion. She spends two hours a day every single day on the flowers. We have flowers absolutely everywhere."

East Morton managed an excellent overall performance in the awards, gaining a gold in the village category and an "outstanding" grade for its East Morton Community Orchard scheme.

The village was also recognised for celebrating 50 years of the Royal Horticultural Society's in Bloom competition.

The judges awarded a gold to Keighley's Mount Pleasant Kennels, in the large business premises section.

Manager Carol Beaty said the award was down to the hard work of gardener Stanley Neave. "Everyone here is absolutely thrilled," she added. "We've been entered into Yorkshire in Bloom for a few years and we've worked our way up from silver and silver gilt."

Yorkshire in Bloom formally acknowledged the work done by Keighley to commemorate the beginning of the First World War and the efforts made by both Keighley and Haworth to celebrate the Tour de France.

As well as Keighley town, other local silver gilt award winners included Keighley Healthy Living Centre, The Oaks Day Centre, Airedale Shopping Centre, Haworth Primary School Gardening Club and Airedale Hospital.

Steve Marshall, head gardener at Airedale, said: "Thanks to the generous funding and continued support from the Skipton and Craven Soroptimists, we were able to design a beautiful floral display at the hospital’s west entrance. I hope we've created an environment our patients, visitors and staff can be proud of. "I owe special thanks to the Friends of Airedale chair, Eileen Proud and treasurer David Petyt for their ongoing support."