Pat and Norman Ellerington, of Ash Grove, transformed their back garden into a stunning coastal scene – with a beach hut, flags and rocks from their favourite holiday destination – to win joint first prize in this year’s village garden competition.

Pat, 67, said: “We take our holidays at Aldeburgh in Suffolk. We thought we could never afford to have a beach hut there, so decided to bring Suffolk to our garden.

“When we go away, we collect pieces of driftwood, rocks and other memorabilia. We have four granddaughters, and they love playing in the hut, which was decorated by my husband.

“Our garden brings back a lot of happy memories for us.”

The couple, who have been married for 45 years, share first prize in the village’s third annual garden competition with Kathleen Ingham, of Valley Road.

The winners were presented with the competition’s rose bowl during a ceremony at the Mid Yorkshire Golf Club.

Parish Coun Andy Tagger, competition organiser, said: “Both winning gardens were remarkable but very different. The amazing seaside theme on Ash Grove was developed with a beach chalet, wave shapes and very clever planting.

“Mrs Ingham – on a much larger garden canvas – had very imaginatively tackled the challenges of shade and scale with a wide range of well-judged pockets of colour, scent and shape.”

A slideshow of pictures of the gardens can be seen at www.darrington.org.uk.