JUNE is bursting out all over with buds, blooms and blossoms.

And if your garden - or hanging basket - is overflowing with magnificent marigolds, glorious gardenias or super surfinia, your green finger skills could win you a top prize.

The Bolton Evening News is launching its Bolton Borough in Bloom competition in association with Barton Grange Garden Centre, Bolton Metro Commercial Services Department and De Vere Whites Hotel.

And this year there is more scope for gardeners to show their creativity - with a Commonwealth theme in keeping with the forthcoming Commonwealth Games.

There is also a water feature category - and after the recent deluges, this section is sure to be a success!

If you are a dab hand with the dibber, or you grow perfect petunias, try your skills in our super contest.

It is open to everyone living in the borough and it does not matter if you live in a flat or a mansion - there is a section for everyone to enter.

You can enter more than one category. No garden, hanging basket or water feature is too modest - the judges want to see a riot of colour and some novel ideas. Do not worry if you don't know your peonies from your poppies - experts are on hand to give advice. All you have to do is ring Vivien at Barton Grange on Bolton 660660.

And to make your garden grow even better, every entrant will receive a free box of Miracle Grow which retails at £3.49, courtesy of Barton Grange Garden Centre.

Criteria:

Good collection of plants

A healthy basket (a well fed basket is a healthy basket)

A tidy basket (ie dead heading etc)

Prizes: £50 gardening vouchers from Barton Grange, a meal for two courtesy of De Vere Whites Hotel and a Bolton Evening News trophy.

Criteria:

Use of recycled materials

Environmental features

Appropriate plants

Quality of construction.

Prizes: £100 in gardening vouchers, a meal for two and a trophy.

One for gardens under 250 square yards and one for best garden over 250 square yards.

Criteria:

Any commonwealth themes

Overall impression

Quality of design

Use of texture (hard/soft landscapes)

Provision of wildlife/organic gardening

Prizes for each category: £100 worth of gardening vouchers, a meal for two and a trophy.

Entrants should submit a photograph of their garden/water feature/hanging basket. A picture of last year's garden is acceptable if your garden is not yet fully in bloom.

A short list will be drawn up and judges will visit finalists in mid-July - entrants will be notified.

Employees and their immediate families of the Bolton Evening News/Commercial Services Department/Barton Grange or anyone connected with this competition are not eligible to enter.

Prizes are as stated. There will be a winner for each category, however in addition the judges may award highly commended certificates at their discretion. All entrants will be invited to an awards ceremony to be held at the Festive Hall on September 15 when there will be a slide show of all the winning gardens. So if you are proud of your garden, and proud of Bolton, enter our super competition and put the bloom back in the borough.

Fill in the entry coupon and send you entries to:

Bolton Borough in Bloom,

Promotions Department

Bolton Evening News

Churchgate

Bolton, BL1 1DE.

The closing date for entries is Friday, July 5

WHAT A BEAUTY: Lisa Thomas a former winner of Bolton in Bloom with her prize hanging basket

Burglar high on drugs jailed for three years