Olympic garden competition winners announced

With more than 200 entrants to the Royal Horticultural Societys (RHS) Olympic Park Great British Garden Competition, the contest was always going to be fierce.

Around 4,000 RHS members voted on the designs, finally choosing those of Colchesters Rachel Read and 11-year-old Malmesbury resident Hannah Clegg.

The youngster, who won the kids contest and will now see her garden design turned into a reality, described how she "jumped up and down" with excitement when her father told her the news.

Her garden features golden acorns, silver fountains and bronze water features to reflect the medal structure in the Olympic Games.

Meanwhile, Ms Reads landscape will have a spiralling path through raised flower beds, which will have plaques containing the names of every UK gold medallist from the past century.

Both gardens will now be created by a team of garden and greenhouse experts in time for the beginning of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

The international competition runs from July until August, while the Paralympics will follow in August and September.