The bright colours of spring were celebrated at a prestigious event in Abingdon.

The 124th annual Abingdon Show saw 150 people enter flower display, spring garden, children’s art and cookery contests.

Gardeners in the town spent last week putting the final touches to their entries ready for the show at the Northcourt Centre, in Northcourt Road.

On Saturday, the centre was filled with an array of colourful spring flowers including daffodils, tulips and hyacinths.

Children also produced art, made jam and baked cakes and hot cross buns for the annual contest.

Judges had braved bad weather to view all the spring garden entries two days before the competition and organiser Ann Marie Lloyd, of the Abingdon Horticultural Society, said: “We had a very successful show.

“Classes included spring flowers and pot plants and the best spring garden.

“We went around the gardens in the wind and rain on Thursday morning and judged them.”

Children were asked to decorate a hen’s egg, create a picture depicting Easter or spring, bring a vase of spring flowers and make an edible Easter nest.

The overall winner was Oliver Duce, six, who was presented with an Easter egg for getting the most points in the children’s classes.

His mum Tracy, from Borough Walk, Abingdon, said it was the fourth time Oliver had entered the show.

She said: “He has always come away with something but never all first prizes.

“He does like flower arranging and is interested in gardening.

“He loves helping my mum because she is a keen gardener.”

Oliver’s grandmother Angela Hughes scooped the cup for best spring garden for the second year running.

She said: “I was very pleased. There is such a nice atmosphere — everyone helps each other.”

Other winners were Ian Shepherd, who won the cup in the flower section, and Mary Banks, who scored most points in the cookery class.

Next year the show celebrates 125 years and organisers are in talks about how mark the special anniversary.

news@oxfordmail.co.uk