PERFECT pogonias and tip-top tulips are among the faultless flowers being flaunted for this year's Best Back Garden competition in Bicester.

For two decades gardeners have been pristinely pruning and tending to their flowers to enter them into Bicester mayor Les Sibley's community competition.

Mr Sibley hopes to mark the 20th anniversary this year with a bigger competition and has already had a number of entries over the summer.

Over the coming weeks the he will be making his decision on which back garden will claim top spot for 2017.

He said: "This year is the 20th anniversary of the ever popular Best Back Garden Competition which has once again drawn an exceptional high calibre of entrants, and because it is a special occasion, I am please to announce that Wyevale Bicester [garden centre] has kindly agreed to host the prize giving presentation.

"I look forward, as town mayor, to meeting and awarding prizes to our green fingered enthusiasts who continue to impress with their ingenuity and passion for gardening."

Wyevale has agreed to host a celebratory awards event on October 21 for all those who have entered the competition.

Entry is free and the event starts at 3pm in the restaurant room at the centre in Oxford Road with refreshments, a talk on gardening from the team at Wyevale and finishing up with the prize giving presentation.

Mr Sibley will award a number of prizes including the Best Bicester Back Garden trophy for the garden which bags top spot.