Green-fingered companies, community groups and schools are celebrating being named 2009 Business in Bloom winners.

Many of the winners of this year’s event, whose standard has been hailed as “exceptional”, came from the Wharfedale, Aireborough and Horsforth areas and included top gold awards in no fewer than five city-wide categories.

Guiseley’s Ings Hotel and The Bridge, in Horsforth, both took gold awards in the public house class, while Bramhope’s Fox and Hounds, Otley’s The Junction and Horsforth’s The Old Ball each received a silver.

Pool in Wharfedale CE Primary School collected a gold in the best school garden category, while in the restaurant, café or licensed premises section there were golds for Otley Golf Club and Guiseley’s Saffron Restaurant, with a silver for Town Street Tavern in Horsforth.

Horsforth Golf Club won a gold in the best small offices/businesses premises class, while consultancy firm Turner and Townsend, also in Horsforth, received a silver in the best large offices category.

Three Otley businesses are celebrating receiving silver awards in the best small retail premises section – Courtyard Planters, Kirkgate Arcade and Patsy’s Wicca Basket.

Finally in the best community group project category there were gold awards for Goldsborough Estates (Chevin Court) in Otley and the Horsforth Central Methodist Church garden, while Horsforth’s The Grove Methodist Church garden received a silver.

Leeds City Council’s chairman of Leeds Floral Initiative, Councillor Frank Robinson, said: “As usual, the horticultural standard has been exceptional and over 180 businesses entered.

“These awards recognise the significant contribution the business community makes to the appearance of the city.”

The competition, held each spring and summer, encourages the business sector to complement the council’s floral displays be decorating their own premises. Prizes were presented to the winners and runners-up at a ceremony held at Harewood House last week.