DESPITE it being an incredibly challenging year for growers of flowers, fruit and vegetables, the villagers of Bolton-le-Sands still managed to put on a spectacular horticultural show.

Local enthusiasts managed to overcome the problems created by the late spring frosts, which damaged fruit blossom before it could set, the cold damp summer, which hampered growing and ripening, and even recent hail storms which damaged many of the late flowers.

And many people simply turned to handicrafts and art as a way of escaping the weather – resulting in a record number of entries in both sections at the 65th annual Bolton-le-Sands Horticultural Society Autumn show.

Also on display was a fascinating selection of photos in the photo-graphic section and a mouth-watering array of cakes, pies and preserves in home crafts – with many of the exhibits donated to an auction at the end of the show.

This was a huge success, with half of the £80 raised to be donated to the North West Air Ambulance charity.