STAFF and students at Askham Bryan College's floristry department have had a double celebration.

The college, near York, won a gold medal at the Harrogate Spring Flower Show, and lecturer Libby Rowley Bell has won the highest UK qualification in floristry - the National Diploma of the Society of Floristry.

She said: "We had a fantastic weekend at the flower show with winning the gold medal, and the diploma is the icing on the cake for me.

"Everyone within the department worked incredibly hard and it's wonderful to receive recognition of that."

To gain the diploma, she had to take theory and practical exams as well as carry out studies in management and practical business skills.

Libby is the fourth generation of her family to be involved in horticulture. Her parents now own Rowleys Florists in Thirsk, where she works one day a week.