THE sun shone obligingly on Upton when the judges from Heart of England in Bloom visited.

Roger Bache and Robin Russell spent two hours touring the town on Wednesday, inspecting the work of householders, businesses and voluntary groups.

They finished up at the old churchyard in the town centre, where the judges were serenaded by singers from Hanley Castle High School. This was in keeping with this year's theme of youth.

The judges visited the Heritage Centre in the old church tower and met Upton in Bloom supporters, councillors and Royal British Legion members, before being whisked across the River Severn to Upton Marina, where they had lunch.

Mr Bache said: "We need to consider what we've seen, but my first impression is that it's a wonderful display.

"We were very impressed by the hanging baskets and intrigued by the automated system to water them."

Doug Fletcher, of Upton in Bloom, said the judges had had a good chance to look around the town and appreciate all the hard work that had gone into the town's entry.

Because of the youth theme, the town's children have been very involved this year, with four-fifths of them contributing to plantings in hanging baskets, flowerbeds and tubs.

Organisers will now have to wait until September to find out how the town has done. Four members of the committee will be invited to the Heart of England awards ceremony at Birmingham Cathedral, when the winners will be announced.

Upton has a track record of success in the competition, winning gold with its very first entry in 2003 and again in 2004 and 2005.