THOUSANDS of people visited the Gateshead Summer Flower Show at the weekend to get gardening tips from the professionals and enjoy a host of activities.

Organisers were confident they would attract the 35,000 visitors they did last year.

The 16th annual event at the Gateshead Central Nursery, Whickham Highway, Lobley Hill, featured 300,000 sq ft of marquee, providing cover for most of the show, including floral displays, a craft fair and speciality foods.

There were also displays by local, regional and national horticultural societies, daily demonstrations on herb-growing, geraniums, fuchsias and fruit-growing.

A centrepiece of the show was a stunning water display called Saltwell Park, inspired by the dene in Gateshead's Victorian park.

The event was organised by Gateshead Council and sponsored by Gateshead Shopping Centre and Indoor Market.