A friend of a Sidmouth in Bloom award winner who died before she was handed her prize said she would have been ‘very proud’ of the recognition.

Jeanette Hyde, who lived in Ebdon Court, received a Silver Gilt in the Small Town Gardens/Courtyards category in the 2012 garden competition.

But the 73-year-old will not be able to pick up her award after she died at the end of July.

Her friend Kersten Burge said Jeanette would have been extremely pleased to be recognised at the Sidmouth in Bloom awards.

“She was always out in her garden, whenever she went to the garden centre she was always picking up more plants or figures to put in the beds,” she said.

“She’d be ever so proud of the award.”

Kersten, who was with her in the ambulance when she was taken to hospital, said her friend’s death was very sudden.

“We were in the pub the day before having lunch, and Jeanette had been out in her garden,” she said.

Mrs Hyde was well known in the town, and Kersten said at her funeral three weeks ago many local shopkeepers came to pay their respects to the 73-yer-old, who used to live in Newton Poppleford.

Her friend said she spent lots money and time and effort on the small front garden she cultivated over the past few years, adding people who walked past the entrance to Ebdon Court on Church Street always came down the alley to have a look.

Mrs Burge said: “I can remember posting the letter for her when she entered, that’s why it’s so sad in a way she wont be able to pick it up.”