RESIDENTS across Thurrock are being urged to show their green-fingered skills and make the borough a better place to live.

Five borough groups have entered the Royal Horticulture Society's Neighbourhood Awards scheme which encourages small resident-led groups to improve their community.

The Belmont Allotments, Ward Avenue Allotments, and the CVS gardeners, are based in Grays, Bonners in Bloom are from Orsett and the fifth group represents South Ockendon.

Entrants are visited by Britain in Bloom experts who present each with an award for improvement, merit or Outstanding Achievement, as well as offering advice and feedback.

Thurrock's Anglia in Bloom representative David Shaddock is now calling for more resident-led groups to clean and green their own patches.

He said: "Applicants for the scheme do not need any gardening expertise, just enthusiasm."

Preparations for this year's competitive Anglia in Bloom regional campaign are also underway, with three local groups entering, they are Thurrock in Bloom, Orsett in Bloom and the newly formed Bulphan in Bloom.

The entries are judged against communities of a similar size.

Thurrock has won a Silver Award on a number of occasions and Orsett in Bloom has, since forming in 2001, won Gold and Best Large Village for three consecutive years, as well as being named the Anglia in Bloom Overall Winner last year.

Orsett has also competed in the Britain in Bloom twice, winning Silver in 2006.