A TOWN show has been hailed a blooming great success.

Bishop Auckland Town Council’s horticulture and town show returned on Saturday for its sixth year after having to be cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic.

Staged in a new venue, No.42 Market Place, the show had more than 40 classes ranging from champion flowers, giant leeks and floral art to children’s craft classes, jams, pies and cakes.

The quality of exhibits was said to be high with chrysanthemums and dahlias judged to national standards.

National Society certificates were issued to Peter McNeille for best vase and best exhibit of chrysanthemums, and to Ian Kitching for best vase and best exhibit of dahlias.

Mayor Katie Eliot said: “It was wonderful that we were able to host the show again this year as it was such a miss in town last year.

“I am very grateful for all the hard work and partnership working which goes on for months in the background to make this excellent show. It was great to see all of the fantastic entries across all 43 classes.

“It was so nice to enable people to take part and it was wonderful how people came together to celebrate the achievement and talent of their peers."

She thanked everyone who supported a produce auction which raised £337.04 for her chosen charity, County Durham and Darlington NHS Trust – Bishop Auckland Hospital.

Read more: Travel advice for Bishop Auckland Food Festival this weekend

Kids Corner classes included Mr Potato Head and friends, wonky veg, decorated biscuit, garden collage picture, and make a flower out of recycled materials.

All classes had exceptional entries, with additional awards going to the Wallace Gang, who help on their dads allotment for their gigantic pumpkin, and Etherley Lane Primary school for their fantastic recycled flowers, and garden collage log.

The council thanked organisers Beryl Anderson, Chris Davidson and Liz Drake, the Auckland Project and Etherley Lane Primary School which entered every class in the children’s section.

Alongside the event, a Show Crow Trail encouraging people to visit businesses in the town to find scarecrows hiding in the windows runs until Monday – after Bishop Auckland Food Festival.

 

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