Organisers of the Shrewsbury Flower Show will attempt to mark next year’s 125th anniversary of the event in style, despite it falling at the same time as the closing weekend of the 2012 Olympics.

Brian Goodwin, chairman of the Shropshire Horticultural Society, said the organisation was already turning its thoughts towards the 2012 event following the success of last Friday and Saturday’s show.

He said the show promised to be a memorable one as it also fell close to the time of another national celebration.

“It is the 125th year and also, of course, the Queen’s diamond jubilee celebration so we will make some special efforts for next year.

“But we do face the challenge of the Olympics so we have got to get people off their sofas. We have got to put on something special to attract them,” Mr Goodwin said.

Mr Goodwin revealed the society was looking into plans to put up screens around the Quarry that would show some of the action from the Olympic events taking place in London at the same time as the flower show.

“On the Saturday, there is the final of the 100 metres and the closing ceremony is on the Sunday,” he said.

“We are going to put up screens for the Olympics and we will have several screens throughout the showground.”

Mr Goodwin said organisers wanted to build on the success of this year’s Flower Show, which saw an estimated 50,000 people pour through the gates of the Quarry over the weekend.

He said the figure was an improvement on 2010, when about 45,000 visitors made it to the rain-hit show.

Organisers hope to verify the precise number of people at the 2011 show this week, as they add up sales of advance, gate and agency tickets.

Peter Road-Night, Shropshire Horticulture Society show secretary, said advance ticket sales and sales of gates tickets for both Friday and Saturday were up on those of last year.

About three million blooms were on display at this year’s event.