A CUDWORTH woman's award-winning garden is back to its best - and she has her sights firmly set on this year's Barnsley In Bloom competition.

Gwen Johnson, 74, of Newland Avenue, has struggled with illness over the last few years but her pride and joy has had a new lease of life this spring.

"It was all concrete when we moved in in 1961 but it's absolutely beautiful now," Gwen said. "A lot of people lose interest in hobbies as the years go by but my garden is what keeps me going."

A labour of love over the last 50 years, it now boasts exotic plants from all over the world and has won multiple awards for its wildlife-friendly approach - it even has its own resident hedgehog and nesting robins.

"The winter is such a horrible time for us gardeners so when it's this time of year I just can't wait to get out," added Gwen. "I'm often up at 4am in the summer when it's light as I'm so proud of it."