APRIL's fine weather has led to Malvern Spring Gardening Show benefiting from floral displays meant for the Chelsea flower show in a fortnight's time.

"The warm balmy spring with temperatures above normal has meant that plants are three or four weeks ahead of what they would normally be at this time of the year," said Bob Sweet, Rural Horticultural Society (RHS) director. "A lot of the displays the crowds will be admiring at Malvern were actually meant to be seen at Chelsea later this month."

Launching the four-day event at the Three Counties Showground, Mr Sweet said RHS judges had awarded 38 gold medals.

"Considering that only seven years ago the total at Malvern would have been about 15 golds it just shows how the show has moved on in terms of quality and how standards have risen," he said.

Among the gold winners were Cooks Garden Centre, Worcester Road, Stourport-on-Severn, with a display of hanging baskets.

"I am chuffed to bits," said owner Paul Cook.

Another gold winner was the husband and wife team of Carol and Rollin Nicholls of Grange Farm Nursery, Guarlford, Malvern, with a display of clematis. Their stand, which launched a new variety of purple rain clematis, also won the most creative designer award.

There was yet another gold at Malvern for Owen's Bros of Claines, near Worcester. Owen's manager Graham Parker. said "We have won golds on many occasions but it's always nice to get another."

The best in show garden was awarded to the special exhibit of a Victorian bothy garden created by celebrity gardener Chris Beardshaw.lFor more pictures and reports see tomorrow's Worcester News.