YORKSHIRE in Bloom judges were today due to inspect York's Museum Gardens.

Garden manager Alison Pringle is pictured inspecting the flowers prior to judgement day.

Weathermen were predicting a gloriously sunny start to today as the judging begins but with clouds increasing from the west, there could be showery rain by the afternoon, possibly heavy and thundery.

Last year’s floral awards by Yorkshire in Bloom saw Whitby’s Pannet Park winning the country houses, estates, parks and gardens category, beating competition from Museum Gardens and Burnby Hall Gardens, near Pocklington, both of which were awarded a gold prize in that category.

In Bloom groups in Stamford Bridge, Knaresborough, Scarborough and Whitby all saw their efforts earn them first prize in their categories, while in the business categories, York’s Middlethorpe Hall and Spa was named winner in the large hotel category, and Yorkshire Lavender, at Terrington, near Malton, won in the visitor attractions category.