DESPITE turbulent weather and flooding forcing the show to downsize, the quality of entries at the Westmorland Horticultural Society annual show remained high.

The society normally make use of Kirkland Hall so that it can display the children's entries - but after the hall was flooded in December, the society had to make some changes.

Rod Holmes, chairman of the society for the past 25 years and winner of this year's best exhibit in show for his chrysanthemums, said that the chatter of children was missed but it was a practical decision that had to be made. The children's entries were instead shown at the society's July show.

"But I think we've managed to cut down the show without losing any quality," he said. "And the quantity is nearly as many as last year.

"It's been a good year in as much as people have got the produce on the bench but unfortunately the weather the last week has affected the flowers."

Although Mr Holmes said that some of the more delicate flowers had been affected by the weather, Kendal's sun-drenched Parish Hall was still filled with bright blooms.

Mike and Lisa Cairns, who had travelled from Blackpool for the show, were two of the competitors whose prize-winning dahlias were decorating the room.

The couple, who are both in their 40s, have only been showing for the past four years but they are both hugely enthusiastic about the shows.

"It's a stress buster," Mrs Cairns said. "We've been there and done it with the pubs and the clubs and holidays when we were younger. It's just a release and it's brilliant that we both love it."

Best in the vegetable section went to the experienced Jim Robinson from Endmoor, for his six shallots. Mr Robinson has been showing since the early 1980's but put his success this year down to 'sheer luck and practise'.

There was also a good number of entries in the home produce categories, with Betty Wilson, from Lupton, taking home a rosette for cookery.