Isobel Hingley may only be six years old but she is already a veteran Brighton and Hove In Bloom winner.

After taking first prize in the Tallest Sunflower Competition last year she was more than happy with her second place in the 2001 awards.

She has clearly taught her brother Fergus, three, a thing or two, as he took third place.

The youngest entrant in the competition, Fergus's sunflower towered above him at 140cm.

The Hingleys, of Vallance Gardens, Hove, were beaten by Jaimin Patel with a 152cm high sunflower but the pair are already planning to enter again next year.

Brighton and Hove In Bloom is becoming more and more popular, with a ten to 20 per cent increase in entries every year.

A prize-giving ceremony for this year's winners was held at The Thistle Hotel on Friday and many will now go through to the finals of South East In Bloom.

Last year Brighton and Hove won the South-East City In Bloom category and was given a special project for 2001 to transform Kemp Town village.

Residents and traders took up the challenge wholeheartedly, with shops, pubs and businesses hanging baskets of flowers outside their premises, while local people turned plots of barren land into thriving gardens.

Their efforts were rewarded on Friday when Jonathan Macfarlane, secretary of Kemp Town Business Association, was presented with The Argus Award and a £250 cheque presented annually to the area that has done the most to boost the Brighton and Hove In Bloom campaign.

Mr Macfarlane said: "The thought, time and effort people have put in is incredible, it has really transformed the area.

"People are proud to live there and the flowers are one way of showing that.

"We have almost no graffiti and no litter in the area and I think it is because Kemp Town village looks cared for."

Other win-ners included Holy Cross Church in Downs Way, Woodingdean, for the Most Florally Attractive Place of Worship; St Luke's Infant School in Queen's Park Rise, Brighton, for the Most Florally Attractive Educational Establishment and Portslade Community College for the Best Children's Wildlife Garden.

The Long Man of Wilmington pub in Patcham was named the best Licensed Commercial Frontage and Fyfield House in the New Steine, Brighton, won the best Non-Licensed.

St Aubyns Mead, Rottingdean, was named the Most Florally Attractive Area.

The quirkiest award was presented to Jim Hemsley of Frederick Gardens, Brighton, who was given a garden gnome for having the Most Amusing Front Garden.

The Stan Hall Cup was presented to the Coldean Group and the Allotment Coronation Bowl was won by Oliver Mott from Horsdean.

Terence Devereaux, of Norfolk Street, Hove, was delighted when he won first place in the Best Hanging Basket Competition for the second year running.

Eleanor and Ron Adams, of Bromley Road, Brighton, won the Best Window Box competition, and Mr and Mrs Hinton of Broadmead Avenue in Hove, had the Best Front Garden.

Tom Amaya-Torres won the best Children's Flower Bed competition and Jan Curry of Richmond Road, Brighton, won the Best Wildlife Garden.

Brighton and Hove City Council leader Ken Bodfish, said: "Those who participated provide a real contribution to making Brighton and Hove such a bright and vibrant city. Everyone benefits from their efforts."