SIMPLY the best!
That was the upbeat verdict on Chester this week after the city scored successes in everything from racing to the environment and architecture.
Wednesday marked the end of the racing calendar with bumper attendances at the final meeting at Chester Racecourse confirming this as the most successful season for years.
There were also celebrations at Chester City Council as the city scooped top place in its category in the North West in Bloom awards for the second year running.
There was also glory for Frodsham, which won the North West in Bloom's Best Small Town Award, the first time it has picked up the trophy.
Meanwhile, in the field of architecture, the Chester City Centre Streetscape Enhancements initiative was praised for offering a model of 'good practice' for other historic centres.
There was excellent news for tourism, too, as the city was confirmed as one of four finalists bidding for a Favourite Day Out Award in the North West, based on the results of a survey.
And for individual tourism establishments, there was delight as nine in the area were shortlisted for prizes up for grabs from the North West Tourist Board.
All in all, the tally of successes adds up to a huge 'Indian Summer' boost for the city and wider region amid gloomy predictions of a worldwide economic downturn ahead.
