MALVERN Spring Gardening Show blossomed in the weekend sunshine with a record 98,000 attendance.

This was 5,000 more than last year and reassured organisers who believed the three-day event may have reached saturation.

"In both 2003 and 2004 we had around 93,000 visitors and especially with some in the media saying the gardening boom had bust, we wondered whether we had reached a plateau," said show press officer Sharon Gilbert.

"The success of this year's event shows those fears were ungrounded and underlines the sense in adding a fourth day next year."

In 2006, the show - jointly organised by the Three Counties Agricultural Society and the Royal Horticultural Society - will begin on a Thursday with a special Press, preview and privilege day.

"I know the fine weather undoubtedly helped," Ms Gilbert added, "but there was excellent response to a slightly different marketing approach and Alan Titchmarsh is always excellent value for money. He spent a day at the show on Friday and promoted it at every opportunity."

Among a hectic schedule, Alan presented a prize to Malvern gardener Lauriene Hubbard of Madresfield Village, who won a competition to name a new rose in aid of St Richard's Hospice, Worcester.

The competition had been organised by Webbs of Wychbold garden centre to raise money for the remaining £1.05m needed to finish the new hospice in Spetchley Road, Worcester.

Gardener, 104, meets Titch

IT'S not very often you find television personality Alan Titchmarsh lost for words, but he met his match at Malvern Spring Gardening Show.

He had been invited to meet 104 years old Bridgett Scott, an avid gardener who has been to every Spring Gardening show since they first began back in 1986.

Putting his arm around her shoulders in greeting, Alan was slightly a taken aback when Mrs Scott retorted "who are you young man?"

"Sometimes I wonder that myself," he replied.

However once introductions had been made Mrs Scott enjoyed an animated conversation with one of her television heroes.

"She was definitely the oldest gardener I have ever met and quite a charming lady," said Alan afterwards "and I have managed to pick up a few tips for longevity - plenty of fresh air and flowers!"

Mrs Scott who lives in her own detached house at Brockhampton, seven miles from Hereford, enjoys pottering about in her garden and up until last year was able to kneel down to weed.

Now she finds this a bit much.

Nevertheless she still takes her little terrier Scampi for a walk up the lane every day and until last year she drove her own car, a rather ancient Renault.

"It was very nice to meet Alan Titchmarsh," said Mrs Scott afterwards.

"He's such a nice man."

On behalf of the shows organisers The Three Counties Agricultural Society and the Royal Horticultural Society Alan presented Mrs Scott with one of her favourite plants, a pink azalea.

Nick Vincent, executive director of The TCAS, said the Spring Gardening Show - which regularly attracts more than 90,000 visitors over its three days - is proving so popular a fourth day is to be added from next year.

There will be an extra half day for Press and previews on the Thursday with the main public days devoted to Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

RHS judges awarded the same number of Gold and Silver gilt medals as last year, 65 and among the Gold medal winners were Owens Bros (of Worcester) Ltd from Claines who produced conifers and Chris Pattison of Pendock near Ledbury a specialist in Japanese Maples and choice shrubs.