MALVERN traders went to town with their artistic skills in the Malvern in Bloom summer window competition.

More that 20 local businesses across Great Malvern, Malvern Link and Barnards Green took on the challenge.

And the standards of the entries were so high that the judges, mayor Julian I'Anson and founding Childline volunteer Colin Butler, had a hard job choosing the winner.

This year's theme was My Secret Garden, and Mr Butler said: "All the entries were of a very high standard, and it was really difficult to choose the winners from so many deserving efforts."

Taking the first place was St Richard's Hospice shop in Malvern Link.

The judges said the designers of the display "made clever use of a wide variety of materials including bamboo plants, basket ware, leaves, astroturf, garden furniture, lanterns, potted plants and even a sun hat - all cleverly arranged to create a really atmospheric garden scene"

Runner-up was Just So in Barnards Green. The judges praised the display's "garden fence encircling children’s soft toys and books and a clever arrangement of hand-made leaves trailing down from the ceiling. The whole effect was a reminder of childhood days spent in the garden".

And taking third place was Malvern Hills Gallery in Great Malvern, which used a painting of the hills in the background to add depth to a scene encompassing soft toys, pictures and floral arrangements with a picture of some striking topiary as a centre piece.

The judges bestowed an honourable mention on Shrinking Violet at Great Malvern Station, for creative use of train tickets to frame a miniature garden scene.