A PENSIONER from West Meon who spends hours perfecting her garden full of hundreds of flowers has had her efforts rewards after winning a Best Hanging Basket Award.

Seventy-four-year-old Joan Sherfield has more than 200 hanging baskets around the outside of her home in Long Priors, crammed with fuchsias, geraniums and petunias.

She won her award as part of Winchester City Council's Tenant Floral Competition.

The baskets are strung along the length of her home and take her more than an hour every day to water. But for Joan that is all part of the fun.

"I enjoy watering. It is quite relaxing," she said, adding that she was delighted when she heard she had won the award.

"My husband died a couple of years ago so now I have to do it all on my own," she said.

"So I am rather chuffed that I won!"