Coming second in the large garden category, 90-year-old Ronald Feasey of Queens Road in Thame surprised people with not only by his pristine beds and borders, but also his ability to maintain a garden which stretches to half an acre in size.

The green-fingered enthusiast spends hours tending to his garden and buys plants he likes the look of and puts them where he wants - "there's no design or plan to it," said Mr Feasey.

Judges visit each garden entered in the 11-category competition and all winners were announced last week.

No stranger to the competition, and a winner on previous occasions, Mr Feasey said he was brought up to be a gardener and the 30-plus years he has spent living in his current home has allowed his garden to grow to its current size and splendour.

Speaking of his winning garden, Mr Feasey has plucked a range of flowers including geraniums and petunias and planted them where he sees fit.

He explained: "I will just buy anything that looks nice and it's all done randomly. I'm 90 years old and I go out everyday and garden. When I was younger I used to be able to plant 50 wall flowers in a season but I can't do that anymore.

"My neighbour asks how I keep managing to do it - and he's 20 years younger than me. My wife has been dead for ten years now so I live on my own, but to be honest I'm never happier than when I'm in my garden."

Winners of the large garden category were Mr and Mrs Partner of Blakeway, while in third position were Mr and Mrs Raven of Cedar Crescent.

Winners in the medium garden competition were Mr and Mrs Johnson of Churchill Crescent. Winners of the small garden were Mr and Mrs Stockwell of Kings Close.

Winners of the facade category were Mr and Mrs Conibear of Mitchell Close.

Winner of the maisonette or flat category was Miss Sellwood of Pearce Way.

The overall winners were Mr and Mrs Johnson of Churchill Crescent; Glencore Grain UK Ltd, in Bell Lane, won the industrial section, and Elegance in the High Street the business prize.