Devizes and Roundway in Bloom are encouraging local people to support their efforts to make the town look its best in a bid to secure another gold medal.

The committee is holding an open gardens weekend on June 21 and 22 following the success of the first one last year.

Despite appalling weather last June the event raised £750 for then-mayor Pete Smith’s charities.

This year 21 gardens will be open and two churches are putting on floral displays.

The gardens are open from noon to 4pm and tickets are £5 for adults, children under 18 go free, available from Devizes Books, The Emporium, town hall, The Wharf Cafe, Hillworth Park cafe, Rosemundy Cottage B&B and Woodborough Garden Centre.

The open garden weekend was introduced last year to replace the front and back gardens category in Devizes in Bloom. It was felt the competitive element put many people off.

But the In Bloom committee are seeking entries by residents for the categories of individual hanging basket and individual planted container. Entries need to be submitted to the town hall by June 23.

Committee members will be judging these and other categories such as pub/hotel displays, hanging basket on a small business premises and retail floral frontage.

The committee would also like nominations for a local gardening hero. This award is given to someone who takes care of a garden space voluntarily. Entries to be submitted to the town hall by the end of July.

Devizes is hoping to win a gold medal in its category in the South West in Bloom competition for the fourth consecutive year.

Zena Robson, chairman of Devizes and Roundway in Bloom, said: “The South West in Bloom judges come along on a given day and are shown around the town.

"Not only do they look for involvement from ordinary people and local businesses, they look at the joys of Drews Pond Wood and Hillworth Park and our new initiatives, such as local gardening hero awards.”

Ms Robson said the committee was always looking for new people to join it. Call the town council on (01380) 722160.