Usk in Bloom has been awarded a substantial grant by Monmouthshire County Council ahead of this year’s Britain in Bloom competition.

The group, formed in 1981, has already won the ‘Large Village’ category for Wales in Bloom, for each of the last 36 years in a row.

The ‘one-off contribution’ of £3,000 will go towards Usk in Bloom’s ‘Champion of Champions’ campaign this year for the ‘Town of Flowers’.

Usk in Bloom, which has 30 members and receives no regular funding, works with funds raised by volunteers to cover annual costs.

The group won Britain in Bloom’s ‘large village’ category in 2017, adding to another four previous wins.

Usk in Bloom will also feature on a 30 minute BBC programme called ‘Blooming Marvellous’ which airs this Spring.