SHOWING some of the best parts of Britain in flowers can put the ingenuity truly to the test - and Morchard Bishop's flower arrangers came up trumps.

Theme for the three-day flower festival at St Mary's Church, Morchard, was Counties of the United Kingdom.

Around 15 displays showed the huge variety in this country from the Isle of Bute and Northumberland, the Norfolk Broads with its boats, Lancashire and the Blackpool Tower and wheel, walking in Cumbria, oast houses in Kent, Devon and its cream teas, even the cakes were covered in flowers.

It was a truly magnificent display with a plant stall, refreshments that included cream teas and all a tribute to the months of planning, choosing flowers and the hard work. The three days were to raise funds for this lovely old church in which the festival sat so well.

Many people in the village contributed. The flowers above the rood screen, donated by Roger Holloway were sold at the end of the festival.

The late Mrs Hilda Tilney, so much a part of the church for many years, was represented because the cake stand Ann Clarke used in her Devon display had belonged to Mrs Tilney.

There was the pew end competition, with all the little arrangements and another part was devoted to In Memoriam, for which people had donated. Fundraising had been going on all year to pay for the flowers.