THIS year's Oswestry in Bloom competition is now in full swing after judging of the town's floral displays started on Monday.

The annual competition which sees homes, businesses and schools display colourful creations with the aim of being crowned winners in various categories, has been a highlight of Oswestry's summer calendar for 19 years.

Back for another year judging the competition is gardening veteran Margaret Thrower, who is the daughter of the late BBC gardener and broadcaster, Percy Thrower – who she attributes her blossoming love of gardens to.

Delighted to be back for another year visiting the many gardens and displays that have been entered, Margaret said: "It is a great privilege to come and judge here, I do it every year.

"I will spend the next two, possibly three days going around Oswestry looking at the gardens and then I will go home and check the scoring and send the results in.

"I see the same gardens year on year, so I'm able to see improvements and alterations but there's always new ones to see too."

Louise Humphreys, member of the Oswestry In Bloom committee, added: "If we see gardens that we like, we send them a letter asking if they would like to enter the competition – some people might be a bit unsure about entering, they might think their garden isn't very good.

"This year we have seen a record number of entries."

A presentation in September will the reveal winners of the many categories judged on, including; front gardens, rear gardens, pubs, schools, commercial properties, balconies, patios and best window displays – which this year has the theme Bees and Pollination.