Sweet scent of victory for David Austin Roses

Staff at David Austin Roses were today toasting its Royal Wedding blooms after securing the latest in a long line of gold awards at the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show.

Judges awarded the Albrighton-based grower the top rating for its formal rose garden.

The centrepiece of the display, which was months in the making, is a pool surrounded by William and Catherine roses developed especially for last month's Royal Wedding.

Nicola Bethell, marketing co-ordinator at the nursery, said today: "We are all thrilled — we have had a lot of golds and we are pleased to keep that up.

"It took months preparing the garden and getting all the roses ready. Naturally they flower at the end of June so we have pushed them on. The warm weather helped."

Meanwhile, Staffordshire's Hooksgreen Herbs, of Oulton Heath, near Stone, was celebrating a silver medal for its display at the show.

Owner Malcolm Dixon said: "It has taken a lot of work but it has all been worth it. We are in the business for commercial reasons and this allows us the opportunity to get our name out there — which is what Chelsea is all about."