A ROYAL champagne reception for more than 300 guests launched Malvern's 2004 Spring Gardening Show on the Three Counties Showground last night.

Attended by the Duke of Gloucester, the party was held in the Royal Horticultural Society's 1.6 acre Malvern Floral Marquee, the centrepiece of the event, amid spectacular displays from 95 of the nation's top nurseries.

After touring the exhibits, the Duke presented the Best in Show award to cactus growers Southfields Nurseries of Bourne in Lincolnshire.

The reception, which raised funds for St John Ambulance, was co-ordinated by Colonel Sir Piers Bengough, this year's president of the Three Counties Agricultural Society, who said the aim was to provide enough money for each of the three counties to have a new ambulance vehicle.

Welcoming the Duke, Sir Piers said, "It is a great honour to have you here tonight in your role as Grand Prior of the Order of St John. I hope you enjoy looking around these magnificent displays."

The three day Spring Gardening Show - which will feature on BBC Two's Gardeners World at 8.30 tonight - officially starts today and ends at 6pm on Sunday evening.

It is expected to draw more than 90,000 and is the first major outdoor horticultural event of the season.

A joint venture between the RHS and TCAS, the event began 19 years ago as a small regional flower show.