LEDBURY Carnival wasn’t the only town attraction that was a blooming success on August Bank Holiday Monday.

Hundreds of people flocked to the Ledbury Community Centre, Lawnside Road, for the Ledbury Horticultural Society’s Annual Flower Show.

It was one of the most successful shows in recent years, both in terms of the numbers of exhibits and the numbers of people who paid a visit.

Kelvin Lynch, a spokesman for the Society’s committee said the glorious late summer heatwave really helped to bring in crowds of flower and plant-fanciers.

He said: “Everything was up this year. The hot sunny weather not only brought huge crowds to the Carnival but over 500 people enjoyed viewing the produce on display at the Flower show, which was held in the Community Centre.

“This year saw 74 exhibitors display 424 exhibits in the various classes ranging from flowers, fruit and veg, photography, handicraft, cookery as well as special classes for children and the family.”

He added: “What was most pleasing was to see 36 entries in the novice class, which bodes well for the future.

“The show was a great success and proved to be a very enjoyable afternoon for all members of the family. The cream teas were probably the icing on the cake.”

David Elliston, President of the Ledbury Horticultural Society was on hand to present the prizes and cups, and also present cheques to two chosen local organisations.

The Horticultural Society makes a donation to two organisations each year and for 2019 those groups were: “A Bell to Remember”, and the 1st Ledbury Scout Group.

Each received a cheque of £150.

A Bell to Remember is an appeal to fund a new bell for Ledbury Parish Church as a fitting memorial of the local people who marched away to war, never to return.

Organisers say it will be a fitting memorial to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War, and to honour the fallen of the local area.

Funding for a large-scale re-ordering of the bells and frame in the tower of St Michael and All Angels is being be sought from various grant-making bodies, because the final bill is likely to top £200,000.

The project was officially launched last November.