The queue to enter this year's flower show

Thousands of people were today pouring through the gates of the 122nd Shrewsbury Flower Show as the sun shone down to help the opening of the event start in style.

Organisers were hoping for bumper crowds of more than 30,000 as people began queueing outside the gates of The Quarry showground, on the banks of the River Severn, from before 9am, waiting for the first day of the floral extravaganza to begin.

• For the official flower show website, click here

And their hopes were boosted by the weather with a warm, sunny start in stark contrast to the heavy rain of recent weeks.

Mike Carver, chairman of show organisers Shropshire Horticultural Society, said: “We have had an excellent, trouble free run up to the show and the forecasters tell us that we could be lucky in this era of sunshine and showers to have more sunshine than rain and that the elements will be perfect show weather.”

Officials said they were hopeful the first day attendance would top 30,000 boosted by a promotion for youngsters.

Mr Carver added: “Special emphasis has been placed this year on attracting young people to the show and there is every indication from the feedback we have received that our policy of allowing accompanied children, 16 and under, to visit the show without payment has been well-received.”

Showground manager Chris Hollins said the state of the ground in all areas was excellent despite the recent rain.

He said: “We had a bit of rain at the start of our preparations in July but since then the elements have been kind to us and we have had no problems with vehicles churning up the showground as has happened in previous years.”

Judges spent the morning viewing the many entries in each of the ground’s marquees, and praised the standard at this year’s show.

Chris Beardshaw, an award-winning garden designer and television expert, who judged the show gardens, said: “The nice thing about the outdoor gardens is the diversity for visitors who can come and see the different solutions for their own spaces, no matter if their garden is small or large.

“The quality gets better year on year as people keep reviewing what they have done previously and what is done at other shows.”

By John Kirk