A DATE at Durham Cathedral was the reward for green-fingered representatives of Cartmel, who won through to the UK finals of the Tidy Britain Group's Britain in Bloom 2000 competition.

Sadly, they learned that they had been beaten by Scarva, from Northern Ireland, in the village category, which included six other shortlisted communities.

Cartmel was visited by judges Ashley Stephenson and Terry Whitmill in August and was assessed on the quality of its floral displays, landscaping, environmental efforts and community involvement.

They said: "The centre of the village is the main focal point for its floral displays, with its mixture of commercial and private properties making good use of various plant containers.

The primary school garden was an excellent project and should be entered for the Greenfingers Challenge."