Oxford has something to celebrate after being named winner of the annual Thames and Chilterns in Bloom competition.

The city beat off competition from Reading to pick up the award for best city, announced at a ceremony in Henley Town Hall yesterday. It has also been chosen to represent the region overall in the Britain in Bloom finals next year.

Oxford in Bloom chairman Karen Roberts said: "It's great news. We won it three years ago and we're delighted to have won it again this year.

"Everybody made a really big effort and the city looked really nice."

Judges Stan Bowes, Kate Dagnall and Mark Mattock toured the city on July 27, visiting the Creation Theatre in Headington Hill Park, Cowley allotments, Templars Square shopping centre and Arlington Business Park.

Mr Bowes said: "The whole picture was extremely good, from the floral displays to the parks, to the people we met, to the graffiti removal.

"They were just absolutely wonderful this year."

The business park, in Garsington Road, was given the award for best landscaped commercial park.

Managing director Howard Bibby said: "We're very excited about receiving awards like this, as it reinforces the importance and value that we as promoters, developers and maintainers of business services believe landscaping adds.

"It makes the park more attractive to occupiers and they in turn derive brand value and prestige by being associated with it."

Florence Park, which features floral displays specially grown for the competition, was named Best Park.

Parks manager Dougie Loveridge, who leads a team of nine, said: "It's a great achievement. We've got cutbacks at the council every year and it's getting harder and harder to provide a service, but this is a credit to the guys and girls on the team."

The Barnes Court Allotments, on Dodgson Road, were also highly praised by judges.

Allotment holders Beryl and Bryan Keen, the former Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress, have been playing their part in the competition for the last three years and were delighted to hear of the city's success.

Mrs Keen said: " Our patch isn't the biggest one, but we have done the best we can.

"I think Oxford in Bloom is a very good thing -- so many people go in for it and it recognises what they do."

Judges were particularly impressed by the overall standard of floral displays across the city, designed by Ian Sheppard, of the city council's parks department.

"I'm over the moon," Mr Sheppard said. "I think it's great for the whole department."

He said the dry summer had posed a challenge as to what was planted, but he felt pleased with the final result.

Now he will begin planning for 2006.

"Next year is going to be a challenge to see how I can make it even better. We have to start working on ideas already," he said.

The Oxford in Bloom committee hopes the completion of the new £34m Oxford Castle development and the redevelopment of Bonn Square will give the city a crucial boost in the Britain in Bloom finals.