MALVERN in Bloom judges were this week casting their expert eyes over shop windows across the town.

Businesses throughout Malvern were urged to get creative and decorate their windows in keeping with this year's Bloom theme of Wild Life.

Last month, it was the turn of the Royal Horticultural Society Heart of England in Bloom judges to size up the town for the regional competition.

And this week it was time for the town's local competitions to be judged, including the shop windows. There were also competitions for local residents to show off their gardens, hanging baskets and pot plants.

John Jordan, chairman of the town's Bloom committee, said: "Shopkeepers in Great Malvern, Barnards Green and Malvern Link all took up the challenge with interesting results and interpretation of the theme.

"The children of Little Oaks Day Nursery put together their own pictures which filled the window of Platinum Estate Agents and certainly caught the eye of passers-by in Malvern Link, whilst elsewhere Malvern Book Co-op in St Anne's Road and the Tourist Information Office in Church Street were amongst those that impressed the judges.

"Charity shops, whilst dependent on items they have for sale, nevertheless joined in the fun, with strong efforts from the St Richards Hospice shops in Barnards Green and Malvern Link.

"Mayor Cynthia Palmer expressed her appreciation of the high standard set by the various entrants, all of which made the judging, and choosing the prize winners quite difficult."

The winners will be announced, and prizes given out, at the Mayor's Bonanza in Priory Park on Sunday.