Filby, near Great Yarmouth, took the gold award in the village category after two years in a row of coming second.

Judges said the village's floral displays were "to be commended not only for the quality and quantity, but also for the community efforts" involved.

David Thompson, whose son Adrian was in Aberdeen to receive the award, said: "We are very very pleased to have a village like this, and we do a lot to keep it that way."

Community spirit is 'unbelievable'

The village has just 540 residents, many of whom are actively involved in the year-round work to keep Filby blooming.

Judges from the Royal Horticultural Society singled out the work they had done to restore a weed-clogged pond, and their organic approach.

They also praised the litter-free streets.

Mr Thompson said villagers went out on litter-picking duty once a fortnight, or once a week in the summer.

"The community spirit here is unbelievable.

"There are so many villages that have lost their sense of identity."