NORTHWICH gardener Rob Chisholm has won the Jim’s Mowing Gardener of the Year title at the first time of asking.

The town resident only took up the franchise in the spring of 2014 and beat off competition from 102 rival Jim’s Mowing business owners to win the Gardening award at a special presentation in York.

The judges were the people who count most: his customers, with their praise for Rob’s work swinging the honour his way.

“I am thrilled to bits,” he said.

"And to win the award from the positive feedback of my clients is fantastic. Starting a new business is never easy, but I am passionate about gardening and delivering high customer satisfaction.

"Nothing pleases me more than when I get a ‘wow’ from a client, delighted with his tidy garden or the sight of a newly mown healthy lawn.”

Even with more than20 years experience, Rob, who lives with his wife Marie and their children, Corey, 16 and 13-year-old Maisie in Northwich, is so keen to learn he volunteers to work where the experts are at the various RHS gardens in the country and was most recently at the Botanical Gardens, Edinburgh.

“It has improved my knowledge and enables me to offer a high quality service to my clients," he added.

"I love working outdoors and all aspects of gardening and I am building up my experience."