SPECTACULAR floral displays are to be exhibited at one of North Yorkshire’s most famous stately homes this weekend.

Castle Howard is hosting its annual flower festival, where members of local flower clubs work alongside Castle Howard’s own florist and garden team to fill the house with a collection of colourful blooms.

The arrangements range from contemporary to the traditional and will be showcased in the lavish surroundings of the 18th century baroque home.

They include a display of carnivorous plants set against the dark rose-branch wallpaper in the Castle Howard dressing room and an archway of silver birch trees leading through antique sculptures in the home’s antique passageway.

Elsewhere in the home will be an English cottage garden display with traditional blooms and a striking display of orange, yellow and red blooms commemorating 75 years since a blaze destroyed several rooms at Castle Howard.

A plant and garden gift market, as well as a number of drop-in talks and demonstrations will take place throughout the festival.

There will also be hourly guided tours of the gardens.

Castle Howard’s flower festival runs from Thursday (June 25) to Sunday (June 28) with entry included in a house and grounds admission ticket. The gardens and shops open from 10am and the house opens from 11am.

For more information visit; www.castlehoward.co.uk