CREATIVE skills of a young florist will be put to the test after she qualified for Chelsea Flower Show’s Young Florist of the Year competition.

Emily Smith, 19, will compete against the brightest in the country to compete for the judge’s attention at the flower show in May.

Miss Smith, 19, has been working at Ammi Flowers in Devizes for over two years and said: “I’m in the designing stage now where I am thinking about different techniques I can use and brainstorming ideas.

“When I left school I didn’t know what to do but I really enjoyed the creative side of floristry and found it was something I loved doing. It pushes you to think of different ideas and I love taking part in the events and competitions.

“Cut flower competitions are not always covers as much as gardens at Chelsea but it is a bouquet that the Queen is given and it takes skill and talent as well.

“When I went last time I saw the queen and there was a fantastic atmosphere every day.”

Miss Smith, of Beanacre road Melksham, trained at Bath College have received a Distinction in level 2 & 3 city & guilds floristry.

She qualified in 2016 and has since gone on to achieve a gold Medal award at the Hampton Court Palace flower Show and was first reserve for the final of floristry competition Worldskills in 2017.

When she attended Chelsea Flower Show two years ago she achieved a bronze medal with Bath College.