MALVERN Spring Gardening Show is as good as Chelsea and Hampton Court, according to a senior member of the Royal Horticultural Society.

Stephen Bennett, RHS shows director, said competitors at Malvern were producing a standard of displays equal to other prestigious RHS shows.

"The whole quality level of horticulture here at Malvern is right up there now with Chelsea, Hampton Court and the Gardeners' World shows," he said

"As one illustration, about ten years ago judges here would give exhibitors maybe ten or 12 gold medals. Now we're giving out about 30.

"And the judges made it very clear that the exhibitors here are being judged by the same standard as Chelsea."

Mr Bennett said the growth of the show was reflected in Gardeners' World filming a special programme from the site.

He added that the heightened coverage was encouraging the show to grow.

"Bluntly, as an exhibitor you enjoy publicity. With the increased coverage of the show, they get that," he said.

"The show has grown simply because its become commercially important."

The director of the Three Counties Agricultural Society, Garth Smith, said: "Last year's show was a phenomenal success both in terms of attendance and delivering a high quality of exhibiting.

"It could be tempting to take things for granted this year but both TCAS and the RHS have worked extremely hard to keep the success story going."