All seven are second year mature students on the part-time foundation degree course in garden design.

"We hoped the judges would like our design but never expected to get a Premier Award," said Sue Garwood, who lives at Wansford.

Mike Figgett of Driffield, Claire Jaram and Gill Butler of Brandesburton, Sue Garwood, Sally Aitken, Paul Johnson and Margaret Hinshelwood created a garden for the Garden Design Challenge sponsored by Bradstone.

The garden was designed to reflect the needs of a young professional couple with no children, creating a perfect place to unwind after work and in which to entertain friends.

The Bishop Burton garden also attracted sponsorship from Arnold Laver Timber World, Houlton, Alphagraphics, S3i and Carrick Read, Solicitors of Hull.

The whole project was a group effort from the initial design featuring a central paved area surrounded by raised beds of differing heights, to the planting plans which concentrated on all year round greenery with splashes of seasonal colour.

Even the choice of garden furniture and accessories aroused much group discussion and many emails.

The garden features a cantilevered pergola and four stainless steel panels reflecting the design in the paving.

Gill Butler, who is also the secretary of the horticultural section of the Driffield Show, told the Driffield Post that all seven students were 'absolutely overwhelmed' on learning the had won the award.