A STREETS AHEAD project has won a nationwide gardening competition.

Garrowhill Garden Estate, a collection of six sites in the East End of the city managed by a team of volunteers, beat thousands of entries to win the Scottish section of the National Community Gardening Competition.

Barrie Linning, who co-ordinates the project - which received a £1000 grant from our Streets Ahead campaign two years ago - said: "I'm delighted to win. I entered back in August and out of thousands of others, I was lucky enough to be chosen as the Scotland winner.

"The prize was £500 of gardening vouchers which is fantastic. Now it's on to the grand final, where I'll be competing against projects from all over Britain for the top prize of £10.000."

Judges praised retired electrician Barrie's efforts, describing them as "epitomising the dedication of the community."

The 69-year-old has three greenhouses and a polytunnel in his garden, growing flowers and plants from seed to display around Garrowhill.

He explained: "That really helps us to keep our costs down.

"The Streets Ahead grant made a big difference, too."

Working with local schools, nurseries, residents and businesses, his eye-catching displays at Barrachnie Cross this year included a tribute to the Commonwealth Games and a commemoration of the First World War.

The group has also branched out to include other sites, replanting two large flower beds, repairing cobbled borders, creating new beds and filling them with shrubs and plants and helping Garrowhill Primary create an organic vegetable garden.

Barrie is one of our campaign's Street Champions, keeping us up to date with what's happening in his area.

Evening Times editor Tony Carlin said: "The Garrowhill Garden Estate Community Group is an excellent example of how individuals, schools, nurseries and businesses can work together to improve their local area. Barrie is a fine ambassador for our campaign which, in conjunction with our partners Clean Glasgow, GHA, City Charitable Trust, ScotRail and Scottish Fire and Rescue, aims to create Street Champions in every corner of the city.

"These people, who work hard to create community spirit and enthusiasm, are often responsible for kick-starting real change and making life better for everyone."

Barrie, who has volunteered in Garrowhill for more than 40 years, launched the project after concerns that Barrachnie Cross was looking run down.

The project has picked up a bunch of awards from both the Royal Horticultural Society and Clean Glasgow and at the end of this month, will receive yet another - a Level 4 Thriving Award from Beautiful Scotland.