NORTH Berwick in Bloom were the big winners from the Beautiful Scotland Awards yesterday evening (Thursday).

The town's In Bloom efforts won them the best coastal town for the 10th time, and they went on to win the rosebowl – the award for the best entry overall – for the second year running.

That saw them take home the Dave Kerr trophy – named in memory of a former North Berwick In Bloom volunteer and East Lothian Council gardener – from the awards in Dunfermline.

Volunteers from Blooming Haddington narrowly missed out on a top prize, but were awarded a gold medal in the Medium Town category, as the tilte was won by Burgh Beautiful, from Linlithgow.

The Haddington group's hanging baskets were commended by judges, who were also impressed by the educational work carried out at Amisfield Walled Garden.

A third county town was recognised as Dunbar In Bloom received a silver-gilt medal in the coastal category.

And there was also an award for East Lothian Council, who took home the Wright Sustainability trophy for their sustainable planting throughout the county.

And East Lothian MSP Iain Gray passed on his congratulations on Twitter.

East Lothian Council provost John McMillan said: "I'd like to congratulate all the East Lothian winners - this is much-deserved recognition of all the effort and hard work which has gone into making the county look beautiful for residents and visitors alike. North Berwick, Haddington and Dunbar can be rightly proud of these achievements.

"I'd also like to thank volunteers in other parts of the county for their hard work and pride they take in their community.

"I'm delighted to see the council's sustainable planting efforts recognised. We receive many positive comments about planting and displays throughout East Lothian and I think most people would agree it's well worth the effort.

"It may be now September but hopefully there will be some nice weather this weekend for people to get out and about and enjoy beautiful East Lothian."

North Berwick In Bloom will contest another award at the end of next month, when the Britain in Bloom results are announced by the Royal Horticultural Society in Llandudno.