Community volunteers were invited to join Falmouth's mayor Grenville Chappel for a celebratory buffet and drinks on Friday when they were praised for their part in the town's recent success in the South West in Bloom Awards.

Several local areas of the town had been selected to win It's Your Neighbourhood Awards, but several of the groups were unable to send along representatives to join in the party.

Awards went to the Friends of Tregoniggie Woodland, Boscawen Fields Action Group, Earle's Retreat, the Falmouth Allotments Society, Kimberly Park, Queen Mary Garden, Gyllyngdune Garden and St Francis and King Charles Schools and Falmouth Primary Academy.

It was reported last week that Falmouth had been awarded a RHS Gold medal and had also won the Portman Cup after being judged to be the best town in the South West. A delegation from the town had attended the awards ceremony in Taunton, including the mayor.

Mr Chappel told the gathered volunteers, along with staff from the town council, Cormac and Biffa: "It was a really exciting day, but they are not our awards - they are your awards. It's all very well me going up and taking this cup, but without you people this would not have happened. Partnerships, that is what Falmouth is all about."