Claire who has been the winner of the most Imaginative Garden award for the past two years, nominated her own garden again in the same category, and quipped: "`Following the comments made in her entry to the worst garden category, we feel we need to show that Libby has a long way to go to catch up with her good friends!

"Obviously now we are in competition with her we will have to prevent her from coming round to our garden for barbecues as we feel she will be coming just to gain ideas."

This year their biggest project has been to include a decking area by the pond with table and chairs on and from there they can look back at the house and see the whole garden from a different perspective.

They have also added seven hanging baskets filled with a colourful variety of petunias, fuchsias and geraniums.

Claire is a police officer based at Wigston and works restricted hours due to receiving chemotherapy for breast cancer.

She said: "Due to our two new family additions, springer spaniels Bonnie and Clyde, who are now 10 months old, we have continued our slate borders along the back area, so there is no soil for them to get muddy paws in (except for the pots on the patio!).

The spaniels get into all sorts of mischief and like to chew things, including one of the acer trees which is now half its size. There are now nine acers in the garden with two new ones added this year. Claire said the spaniels also like to drink the pond water – which is home to fish, newts and frogs.

The couple are hoping the overall look will keep them in top place for the Most Imaginative Garden again this year.