Shropshire’s green fingered gardeners were today showing off their beautiful blooms as a distinguished panel of experts set out to choose the winner of the annual Garden of the Year competition.

Sponsored by the Shropshire Star, the judges were visiting, assessing and selecting the winners from the finalists.

The panel is comprised of expert gardener, author and broadcaster Roy Lancaster, Margaret Thrower – daughter of the late Percy Thrower – and Shropshire Star horticultural guru Martin Ford.

The competition this year celebrates its 25th anniversary.

Prizes will be presented at the 121st Shrewsbury Flower Show, which takes place on August 15 and 16 in the town’s Quarry.

The event seeks to celebrate some of the best and most interesting patches in the county and includes gardens of varying types and sizes.

Last year, the winner of the larger garden section was Mary Bower, of Morville, whose garden was described by Mr Lancaster as arguably the best he had seen in almost 25 years of judging.

David and Sandra Johnson, of Longdon on Tern, were named runners-up with the help of their central water feature, while third place went to Stuart and Carol Buxton, of Pontesbury.

In the smaller garden section, the winner was competition newcomer Kathryn Cornes, with her area in Woodseaves, near Market Drayton.