A NEW gardening competition will be launched in a Hyndburn community next year in a bid to encourage more green-fingered activity in the area.

The contest will take place in the Dill Hall Lane estate in Church next July and is being organised by Church Central Residents Association and Hyndburn Council.

All the residents on the estate will be entered into the competition, with the an independent panel as judges.

Barbara Cliffe, from the CCRA, said: "It would be great to get someone famous to do the judging.

"We have announced the competition now so people have time to prepare their gardens.

"We hope it will encourage people to take pride in their properties."

Awards will be given for the best front garden and the most improved garden of the year. Posters have been distributed in the area telling people about the contest.