DESPITE turbulent weather conditions, judges of this year's 84th Westmorland Horticultural Society Annual Show were 'pleased' with the event's excellent standard of entries.

Dozens of exhibitors produced a colourful display in Kendal's Parish Church with their array of fruit, vegetables, flowers, floral art, baked goods, wines and preserves.

Rod Holmes, chairman of the society, heaped the praise on the quality of the entries at this year's show.

"It's been a difficult year with all the hot weather and latterly the wet weather," he said. "We were a little bit worried that the cut flowers would be not as good as it's been but as you look you can see there's fabulous dahlias, chrysanthemum, gladioli.

"Everywhere you look there's every type of flower.

"We're really pleased with the overall quality of the show. It's the quality that we're pleased with as much as anything else. There's quality in every single section."

The best in show award went to Jim Robinson, of Endmoor, for his six shallots.

Jim, who has won best in show a number of times, said that he was 'over the moon' with the result.

"It's just a hobby," Jim, who also grows onions, leeks, cucumbers and peas among other produce. "It's not been a good year. It was too hot through the summer and August it was cool and damp. But they're things you can't control really."

And husband and wife team Mike and Lisa Cairns travelled from their home in Blackpool to put forward their wares.

"We've done everything this year," Mike, 50, explained. "We've done dahlias, all the vegetables. We've done chrysanthemums, Lisa's done all the baking this year."

He said that they're 'hooked' on taking part in shows and they had just had to 'grin and bear it' with this year's unpredictable weather conditions.

"We love it," he said. "The people up here are so welcoming, they don't mind how many exhibits you enter."

He said it was their second show this year and would be heading to Harrogate to show dahlias.

"It's a hobby," Mike said. "It's just stress relief. You head home from work and you head to the allotment."