Gardening inmates win a bathroom

Cardiff prison is a regular entrant in the Cardiff in Bloom competition

Garden-proud inmates at Cardiff prison have won a £1,000 voucher for luxury bathroom goods.

Their ticket was picked at a prize draw at the Cardiff in Bloom awards, after their entry came second in the community building garden category.

The win caused a ripple of laughter at the awards evening at City Hall, which saw some 250 individuals and organisations compete.

The Prison Service said no decision had been made on the voucher.

Prisoners at the jail are no strangers to success in the horticultural world, as they have won in their category a number of times over the years.

Cardiff prides itself on its credentials as a green city, landing a gold award in the Large Cities category in Britain in Bloom three years ago.

The council describes its own bloom awards as a way of "increasing a sense of civic pride and making Cardiff a brighter and better place to live and work".

Liberty baths

Entrants were automatically entered into the prize draw, with winners landing the voucher offered by bathroom goods retailer, Bathstore, based in Newport Road.

Cardiff in Bloom co-ordinator Ruth Mumford said the announcement the prize had gone to the green-fingered prisoners was greeted with much amusement by the audience.

The prison's entry came second for the award in the community building (limited access) category

She said: "The draw was made by the Lord Mayor and a ripple of laughter went around the room.

"The person who coordinates the gardening activities [at the prison] wasn't there.

"He was there to receive his [second] prize for best kept community building garden but had left by the time the draw was made."

While the Prison Service makes a decision on whether or not to accept the voucher, prisoners who send out for a Bathstore brochure should find a bargain or two to suit their tastes.

'Ladder radiators'

Those keen on a bit of luxury when they relax after a hard day's gardening could choose an Oxford roll top bath or something from the range of Liberty baths.

And, of course, if there is any difficulty in going to pick up the order, the store does deliveries.

Bathstore manager Andrew Spiller said he had not yet had any inquiries or orders from the prison.

He said: "The only thing in the brochure with bars on it are the racks for the soap dishes. Or they could have the ladder-type radiators."