WAR memorials from the Three Towns and Kilwinning have received high praise indeed in the 2022 Best Kept War Memorial competition.

This was run across the Glasgow, Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway areas, with a number of different categories to acknowledge the different restraints affecting each area.

Six judges from across the areas were enlisted to visit the memorial gardens and come to their decision.

The gardens which were being judged in the competition, with the exception of one category, are all submitted and maintained by the areas local Royal British Legions Scotland (RBLS) branch.

There was plenty to celebrate for the Saltcoats, Ardrossan and Stevenston branch, with accolades awarded to war memorials in all three towns.

In the ‘large communities without gardens’ category, Stevenston was awarded as the overall winner, making it the gardens second victory in as many years.

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And in the ‘large communities with gardens’ category there was twice as much success to celebrate.

The Ardrossan garden was considered ‘highly commended’, though it was Saltcoats who claimed the overall victory in this category, for the second consecutive year.

And the area’s success stretched out beyond the Three Towns, with Kilwinning’s war memorial scooping one of the most sought-after accolades.

After being deemed ‘highly commended’ in the ‘champions of champions’ category in 2021, the Kilwinning garden reached top spot this time round, winning the category for the area.

Speaking after the judges had reached their decision, Paul Coffey, president of the RBLS Saltcoats, Ardrossan and Stevenston branch, said he was grateful for the support given by the community in their efforts.

He said: “[The] Saltcoats, Ardrossan and Stevenston Branch of the RBLS would like of offer special thanks to ‘Streetscene’ who go above and beyond, and all who helped from the branch and the community.”