A green-fingered grandmother has scooped a top gardening prize for the second year in a row – despite not having a patch of grass to call her own.

Mary Fahey, 71, won the bronze award in the ‘balcony and patio display’ category at the annual London Almshouses Gardens Competition.

She beat competition from around 400 others.

The display at her home at the Sir George Monoux Almshouses in Church End, Walthamstow, includes wall-mounted garden chairs to display pot plants.

Ms Fahey, a grandmother-of-eight, received her prize at the Guildhall, last night.

After winning for the second time in two years she said: “It was a very big affair, hundreds of people entered.

“I put my best frock on for the ceremony. I would have loved to have got second place this time around but it is great to get another award.

Ms Fahey is a semi-retired teacher and community radio DJ.