GREEN-FINGERED enthusiasts can hear how they can boost Durham's Britain in Bloom bid at a Gardeners' Question Time event.

Durham City Council is hosting this Thursday's question and answer session as part of the launch of its Britain in Bloom 2005 campaign.

A panel of experts will answer gardening queries and offer advice, at the B&Q warehouse on the Durham City Retail Park, at Dragonville.

Staff from the B&Q garden centre team will be on hand to give practical demonstrations, and people will be told what they can do to help the city's cause in the Britain in Bloom stakes.

Earlier in the day, Durham's new Mayor, John Lightly, will officially launch the city's bid to go one better than last year in the awards.

Durham is going for gold in the large town/small city category of what is considered to be Europe's largest environmental competition, representing the North-East for the eighth time in ten years.

The city's parks and gardens team pulled out all the stops last year to win a silver gilt award.

No tickets are required for the question time event, to be staged in the coffee shop at the B&Q warehouse, starting at 7.15pm.