ALTON Horticultural Society drew record entries for its annual summer show, transforming Alton Assembly Rooms with its spectacle of vibrant colours and smells.

Entries for the show were open to everyone and Geoff Hawkins, the judge of the flower, fruit and vegetable classes, said it was good to see new people participating and that the overall standard of entries in the open classes was “really good”.

Alton mayor Pam Jones presented trophies to the exhibitors whose entries were deemed to be best in class. They went to Dinah Swaby (flowers), Barbara West (fruit and vegetables), Diane Prior (floral art), Linda Fawley (homecraft) and John Gilbert (photography).

Meanwhile, on the lawn outside the Assembly Rooms, horticultural society members invited children to take part in the annual Alton in Bloom scarecrow competition.

The winner of the individual category was Eva, who will hold the Scarecrow Trophy for a year as she gained most votes overall. Runner-up was Lucas – who is not yet two but had some obvious input into the entry – and third was Corbin.

Happy Talk Nursery won the group category, Wooteys Infant School’s Robin and Wren Class were second, and Little Den Nursery third.

The winners will receive bulbs in the autumn donated by Garthowen Garden Centre at Four Marks.

For more pictures from the summer show and scarecrow competition, see this week’s Alton Herald.