Trowbridge Rugby Club stalwart Ian Lawes is on the ball when it comes to flower displays, after the club won two awards in the annual Trowbridge in Bloom competition.

Mr Lawes, who is kit man and general handyman at the club, designed the flower beds with first team manager Nobby Knight, after the move from its old Green Lane home to Doric Park last year.

The club, which achieved promotion and won the RFU Intermediate Cup at Twickenham last season, was victorious again when it won the best frontage and best garden, patio or seating area categories in the licensed premises competition.

It beat off competition from The Codfather and The Kings Arms in the best frontage category, as well as The White Swan and The Kings Arms again in the best garden, patio or seating area category.

Mr Lawes, who has won Trowbridge in Bloom awards before for his own garden in George Street, said: “It’s great that the club has put the money up for it all and it’s good to get the recognition.

“It was only banks of rubble 10 months ago, but myself and Nobby did the landscaping. It was a joint effort and the displays have gone down really well with all of the people who have been coming to the club.

“We get people coming to the club for wakes, birthdays and wedding receptions and people like standing outside and looking at the flowers. We also have some hanging baskets around the back.

“I water them pretty much every day at the moment as it has been such a hot summer and I can spend as long as three hours maintaining them and pulling out the weeds, but people passing by always say that they look a picture.”

Trowbridge in Bloom included eight competitions this year, with the others including allotments, art in your garden, churches, community pride, residential, schools and short story.

Mr Lawes added: “The flowers along the front of the club correspond with the colours of the club and that looks quite impressive. People don’t expect to see it at a rugby club, but it has been a big success.”