THE Cleethorpes In Bloom campaign will be "pulling out all the stops" as it embarks on an exciting new challenge.

As reported, the resort won gold awards at both regional and national level last year and also came first in the coastal resort category of both East Midlands and Britain In Bloom.

Now, with competition rules preventing it from defending its Britain In Bloom crown, the resort is taking part in a newly created elite competition.

The East Midlands In Bloom Champion of Champions contest will see Cleethorpes go up against three other entrants from across different categories who have also achieved two successive gold awards: Oakham in Leicestershire, Mansfield in Nottinghamshire and Market Bosworth in Warwickshire.

Speaking at the launch of Cleethorpes In Bloom 2010 at the Beachcomber in Humberston last night, committee chairman Bob Callison was confident the resort would rise to the challenge.

He said: "I think we stand an excellent chance of success. The other towns know what Cleethorpes is capable of, especially after we won Britain In Bloom, and I think they will be pulling out all the stops to win – we certainly will. We've reached the top, now we've got to try and stay there."

For more on last night's event – and to find out who were the prize winners – see today's Grimsby Telegraph.

For all the latest news from Grimsby and Cleethorpes In Bloom, log on to www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk/inbloom